Heroes on the frontlines

ifaw wildlife rangers

Celebrating our heroes on the frontlines

IFAW’s Olgulului Community Wildlife Rangers (OCWR) in Kenya protect and patrol the incredibly biodiverse 150,000 hectares of community lands shared by both people and wildlife surrounding Amboseli National Park. © Patrick Sayialel, OCWR

Nearly 100 rangers die in the line of duty every year. Last year, half of those deaths were at the hands of poachers. It takes strength to be an IFAW Wildlife Ranger. These brave men and women protect wildlife from the front lines while simultaneously bridging gender gaps, establishing generationally sustainable revenue streams and creating systems to save populations.

During this time of financial hardship from COVID-19, national parks across Africa are seeing a rise in poaching events and wildlife crime. Despite new challenges, IFAW-supported rangers in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia continue to be the first line of defense against poachers, ensuring that Africa's national parks remain a safe place for wildlife to thrive.

Help us say thank you

This World Ranger Day, send a note of gratitude to wildlife rangers and let them know how much you appreciate their lifesaving work. For more stories and ways to get involved, follow the #RangerStrongFor hashtag across IFAW's social channels.

View photo stories of rangers in the field during lockdown

Forging a new path

Team Lioness is one of Kenya’s first all-women wildlife ranger units. As Community Wildlife Rangers (CWR), the women help protect nearly 150,000 acres of traditional Masaai community lands that encompass Amboseli National Park in Kenya. COVID-19 has brought new challenges to Team Lioness. As essential workers, the rangers are quarantined and separated from their families during these challenging times. The drop in tourism has led to limited resources and revenue, causing many areas to see an increase in poaching and illegal activity. Team Lioness continues to remain on the frontlines, playing a critical role in the protection of Africa's wildlife.

Making a vision a reality

The Panda Masuie Release Project gives orphaned elephants a second chance at life in the wild. Created by Wild Is Life-ZEN and IFAW, the initiative aims to transform Zimbabwe's Panda Masuie Forest Reserve back into a rich ecosystem where elephants and wildlife can thrive. We are incredibly thankful for the elephant handlers and rangers who make this project possible thanks to their incredible dedication and determination.

During these challenging times, we can't forget about the wellbeing of animals around the world. Our rangers are working around the clock to ensure that parks and wildlife remain protected from the threat of poaching. With your support, we can continue to build a future where animals and people thrive. Will you join us?