By Wallace Mawire
31 July 2025, marked World Ranger Day 2025, celebrated under the theme “Rangers, Powering Transformative Conservation.”
The annual initiative honours the critical work of rangers worldwide and commemorates those rangers who suffered in the line of duty. Across Africa, nearly 60,000 rangers dedicate themselves to protecting wildlife and wild spaces, sometimes putting their lives on the line.
Wildlife conservation NGO, Wild Africa has connected with rangers across the continent to share their personal stories from the field and highlight the courage and sacrifices required for this demanding profession.
Africa is grappling with a significant conservation crisis driven by rapid human population growth, and the expansion of urban developments, poaching and other wildlife crimes, climate change and deforestation.
These pressures are leading to habitat loss and a decline in countless species. Rangers are at the forefront of addressing these challenges, working to secure protected areas so that ecosystems can function effectively for the benefit of both wildlife and people. The role of a ranger extends well beyond wildlife protection as they also provide environmental education, act as first responders, engage in law enforcement, manage fires and conduct community outreach.
Globally, there are an estimated 280,000 rangers carrying out these diverse and essential tasks, but this number falls far short of what is needed to meet global conservation targets.
To protect 30% of the planet by 2030, approximately 1.5 million rangers will be required. Yet, despite the urgency, ranger numbers are declining, and the work remains highly dangerous.
Between 2006 and 2021, 2,351 rangers died while on duty globally, with nearly half (42.2%) of these fatalities resulting from criminal activity, often linked to wildlife crime and organised poaching operations. Other challenges that rangers face include time away from their families, long hours of solitude, traumatic confrontations with poachers and being ostracised by their communities following arrests.
Wildlife rangers are passionate individuals, with unique stories of why they pursued this dangerous career, and why they are so dedicated to their work in preserving Africa’s wildlife.
Sergeant Margaret Darawanda, Deputy Head of Operations, Akashinga East says, “The most dangerous thing is to come across an armed poacher. They will try to stop you from disturbing them, because they know it’s illegal. We have to understand that everything has a right to live.”
Sergeant Petronella Chigumbura, Deputy Ranger Supervisor, Akashinga East, says, “I must keep on protecting this for my children to see. The world must know, even if you are an orphan, even if you are just a divorced woman, you still have the power to protect the animals.”
On World Ranger Day, and every day, we pay tribute to the bravery, resilience, and dedication of rangers who protect not only endangered species and fragile ecosystems, but also Africa’s natural heritage that sustains us all. Let’s reaffirm our commitment to stand alongside them, providing the resources, recognition, and support they need to continue this vital work for generations to come.
Wild Africa aims to be Africa’s most effective conservation communicator, inspiring the public support and political will to protect Africa’s wildlife and wild spaces forever. They believe people and wildlife can only survive and thrive together, so they are popularising conservation with a much broader audience than has previously been engaged. By amplifying the voices of African opinion leaders from every field through a powerful network of media partners and diverse programming, they seek to promote domestic wildlife tourism, local conservation projects and the passage and effective enforcement of conservation laws. Through their communications and direct support, they also aim to deliver permanent reductions in wildlife crime, the demand for illegal bushmeat, human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss. Their network includes more than 25 national and international broadcasters, as well as radio, newspaper, billboard, PR and social media companies, who work with them pro bono to add their voices and promote conservation and environmental issues. They partner with 199+ ambassadors from music, sports, film, TV, business, religion and government from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana, Namibia, and Somaliland.