It’s World Ranger Day 2024

31/07/2024

Join Born Free as we celebrate these frontline heroes and remember the important role they play in conservation.

Born Free’s dynamic Twiga Team on patrol © George Leakey

Wildlife rangers are pivotal to conservation. From patrolling wilderness areas, to removing deadly snares and treating injured animals, rangers play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of wildlife habitats.

The theme for World Ranger Day 2024 is ’30 by 30’, which is a reference to the Global Biodiversity Framework adopted during the 2022 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). Born Free was heavily involved in the negotiations that led to this historic agreement, which seeks to stop biodiversity loss and restore wildlife. Target 3 of this framework aims to conserve 30% of land, waters and seas by 2030, but this target cannot be achieved without the dedication and commitment of wildlife rangers across the globe.

Often it can be the novel technologies and innovative methods that generate the most excitement (and funding) amongst conservation supporters, from ‘unmanned aerial vehicles’ to satellites. Yet, more often than not, it is the ‘boots on the ground’ that have the most impact. Conservation relies upon hard-working, knowledgeable and enthusiastic people in the field, dedicating their time to protecting wildlife. Without these incredible, brave individuals, conservation organisations, including Born Free, could not have the impact that they do to protect our planet’s wildlife.

At Born Free, we operate a team of eco-scout 'rangers' in Meru National Park, Kenya, called the Twiga Team, who conduct de-snaring patrols. Every day, the team gets up at the break of dawn, don their boots, grab their wire cutters, and set off to patrol the park, removing every snare that they come across. In the last year alone, they have removed over 500 of these wire nooses, to help keep wild animals safe.

Joe Hedges, Conservation Officer

Sadly, snares are a significant issue in Meru National Park, as poverty levels in communities in the region are high, so some locals unfortunately use poaching with snares to catch wild animals as meat, as a means of obtaining protein or income. Snares are indiscriminate – whether it is an antelope, a buffalo, a giraffe, an elephant, or a lion, snares pose a potentially lethal threat.

For example, General, a male lion from Elsa’s Pride, was recently rescued by a collaborative effort from Born Free and the Kenya Wildlife Service from a wire snare around his neck. The Twiga Team (Swahili for ‘giraffe’) play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the national park and preventing hundreds of animals from falling victim to snaring.

To find out more about this life-saving work, we spoke to Shadrack Kimeu, the Twiga Team supervisor:

“Being a reformed poacher myself, I met Born Free in my village in 2004, where they were making a film about illegal bushmeat by the name Mizoga (meaning ‘carcass’ in Swahili). The film shocked me, clearly describing the devastating impact poaching can have on wildlife and the fatal dangers involved in the consumption of bushmeat (which can spread disease). I knew then that I had to do something.”

Shadrack Kimeu, Twiga Team Supervisor

“When I see an animal caught in a snare, I really feel uncomfortable and frustrated. It is hard to watch an animal in extreme pain. Snaring results in agonising pain, stress and panic, and the wound can quickly become infected and could result in a prolonged and excruciating death for animal. The snared individual will be fearful and may suffer from hunger, thirst, and exposure to attacks from other animals. The pain I feel when seeing an orphaned baby animal who has lost their mother to a snare is one of the worst experiences.

“I personally appreciate our supporters who have been tirelessly supportive of our projects through donations and fundraising. Their contributions have allowed Born Free and the Twiga Team to meet our targets and realize our goal of protecting the wildlife of Meru from the threat of indiscriminate snares.”

YOU CAN READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH SHADRACK HERE

On World Ranger Day, we are reminded of the crucial role that dedicated rangers around the world play in protecting and conserving wildlife and wilderness areas. Please donate today to ensure that teams such as the Twiga Team led by our inspirational Shadrack can continue carrying out this vital work.