What are wildlife rangers?

In this blog, we take a closer look at the vital work of wildlife rangers in 2025 and beyond. Read on to learn more about what their job entails, the dangers they face, and how IFAW works to help them. 

What do wildlife rangers do? 

Some patrols last longer—a week or more—in areas that have fewer rangers and more space between ranger stations. This is often the case in larger parks. On these long-range patrols, rangers are out for the entire day and camp out at night. Rangers take turns at night staying awake to keep watch. 

Combating criminal activity 

During patrols, rangers keep an eye out for criminal activity like poaching and illegal logging. They look for snares and traps set to catch animals and remove them—a time-consuming task. Part of the danger of their job is the fact that rangers may come into direct contact with poaching groups. In these cases, the risk of conflict is high. 

Tracking wildlife populations 

In addition to fighting wildlife crime, rangers look for and record signs of wildlife like paw prints and faecal matter. They use cameras and GPS recording equipment to collect data on populations and their movements. 

For example, IFAW has equipped rangers with an app called EarthRanger that allows them to track the movement of elephant herds in real-time. 

In Malawi’s Kasungu National Park, 28 elephants (most of which were matriarchs) were fitted with GPS collars. When a collared elephant gets too close to human populations, the app sends an SMS alert. Rangers can then travel to the herd and use non-lethal deterrents—like firecrackers and chili blasters—to encourage elephants to change their course. This is helping prevent human-elephant conflict. 

The EarthRanger app also provides rangers with the data they need to understand wildlife movements, conflict types, and mitigation effectiveness. This helps them better track elephants and identify seasonal elephant corridors, while providing information that can be used to guide land-use plans and national environmental strategies. 

Engaging with local communities 

Rangers also engage with local communities living in and around protected areas. Not only is this important for preventing and responding to incidents of human-wildlife conflict, but it also provides them with another source of intelligence on wildlife crime. 

Community members may have directly witnessed criminal activity and have information they can share. Rangers who are in direct communication with local communities can then respond quickly to reports of wildlife crime and human-wildlife conflict. 

Engaging communities in conservation also helps raise awareness about endangered species and the threats they face. It can help prevent poaching in the future by educating the youth about why it’s illegal and why protecting biodiversity is important. 

Fighting fires 

In addition to all this work, rangers spend much of their time in dry seasons fighting fires. While some natural fires are important for the health of ecosystems, in the age of climate change, wildfires in some areas are increasingly severe and unpredictable. Some natural and manmade fires can be very harmful to the landscape and animals. 

Assisting with wildlife tourism 

As wildlife tourism is a driving force in the economy of many places where rangers work, they also often assist with tourism. 

What threats do wildlife rangers face in their work? 

Rangers’ work is grueling and can be deadly. In an IUCN report, 88.6% of rangers in Africa stated they had faced a life-threatening situation at work. They often work in remote locations, separated from their homes and families for weeks to months at a time. Their salaries are typically low, and some are even volunteers. 

It’s estimated that every week, about two rangers die in the line of duty—that’s about 100 every year. Cause of death can often be attributed to one of the following threats. 

Lack of equipment 

Rangers often lack the equipment they need, such as vehicles, and they experience poor living conditions at ranger bases. Ranger housing can be as basic as a tin hut. Estimates suggest that 80% to 90% of rangers globally are underequipped in their work. 

Rangers need access to clean water, sufficient shelter, survival skills, first aid training, criminal investigation training, good health care—especially since their work is injury-prone—and financial security for their families, in the event that they are killed or incapacitated. 

Even simple tools like mosquito nets can make a huge difference in the lives of rangers, as they can prevent serious diseases. 

Attacks on rangers 

One of the most dangerous parts of a ranger’s job is the reality that they are up against well-organized criminal syndicates. Rangers may become outnumbered by poachers on the ground or lack self-defence methods. More than 66% of rangers in Africa reported that they had been attacked by poachers. 

Working closely with wild animals 

Working in close contact with animals also makes ranger work perilous. Sometimes, large animals like rhinos and hippos lash out at humans when they feel threatened or have been traumatized by previous encounters with humans. In Africa, 82% of rangers said they had experienced a dangerous encounter with wildlife. Rangers are also at risk of being exposed to zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can be passed between animals and people. 

Tough working conditions 

In addition to dealing with wild animals, rangers also face harsh, unforgiving landscapes, dangerous equipment like barbed snares, extreme temperatures, severe weather, limited communication, and all the other risks associated with working—and sometimes sleeping—in the wilderness.  

Patrols can negatively impact a ranger’s physical health, as they are often on their feet, walking long distances for many hours or days. Mental health and morale can become an issue too. Sometimes, rangers are treated harshly by local communities due to misconceptions about their work. Coming face-to-face with criminal activity and witnessing the horrors of poaching can also take its toll. 

How does IFAW support rangers? 

By 2030, members of the United Nations Conference of the Parties aim to protect 30% of the Earth’s surface. Protecting 30% of the world is a big ask of rangers, who—as we have discussed—are often underpaid, underequipped, and underappreciated. 

That’s why at IFAW, we have dedicated much of our time and resources to supporting wildlife rangers, and will continue our efforts in 2025 and beyond. 

Supporting rangers in Zambia 

Over the past five years, IFAW has supported the rangers of Lukusuzi National Park, Zambia, helping supply uniforms, patrol vehicles, equipment, training, food rations, and allowances, all of which have greatly improved ranger morale. We also supported the construction of a new ranger base with much better living conditions than the rangers previously experienced. 

Supporting rangers in Kenya 

In 2023, along with USAID, we supplied community rangers in Mgeno Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya, with motorcycles. These vehicles sped up response time to incidents of wildlife crime and human-wildlife conflict and empowered the rangers to better support their communities. 

In Watamu, Kenya, IFAW supports marine rangers in patrolling the coastline and preventing illegal activity. IFAW also collaborated with the International Whaling Commission, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Kenya Marine Mammal Research & Conservation to deliver a three-day training course for marine rangers and other participants on marine mammal rescue, including whale disentanglement techniques and dolphin stranding response—helping to increase safety and outcomes for both animals and responders. 

In 2022, IFAW facilitated a two-day intensive training programme in Amboseli, Kenya, that helped 30 of the Olgulului Community Wildlife Rangers develop new skills as first responders in wildlife crime scene investigations. They were trained to use equipment like digital cameras and smartphones to capture photographs and document scenes. 

Supporting women rangers 

Only 11% of wildlife rangers are women. In Kenya, IFAW supports one of the first all-women ranger units, Team Lioness, which empowers women from Kenya’s Maasai community to serve their communities and protect wildlife. We also renovated their ranger base in Risa at Amboseli National Park to support the needs of their families and children. IFAW-supported women rangers work alongside men rangers in Kasungu National Park, Malawi.