On the Trail - Robin des Bois

The Unknown Ranger
Each of the world’s national parks, marine parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and nature reserves has its obvious
beauty but also its hidden dangers. In every protected area are camouflaged heroes, known mostly, if one
can say so, to the flora and the fauna they protect and care for. On any given day or night these rangers,
wardens, game rangers, forest guards/guardaparques, but also field officers and maintenance workers, no
matter what their job title, could be called on to perform heroic feats. A ranger’s job description includes
the safety of visitors, general upkeep of the area, the early detection of fire and disease, helping some
animals out of a sticky situation, and last but not least to wage the war against poaching. Indeed, some of
the most remote places of the planet where only the distant sounds of birds’ singing, monkeys’ laughing,
elephants’ crying and tigers’ creeping could be heard, have been turned into modern battlefields.
The stakes are high to save the world’s last natural wonders, the sharks, the lions, the tigers the bears etc... Last
year alone 10 rangers were killed by the animals they were trying to protect, in the case of accidents emergency
services are often far a field. Officially, around 100 rangers are killed every year while on the call of duty. The true
figures are most probably closer to 300 and homicide is by far the greatest cause of death. The pace is accelerating.
Ethologists have shown that mammals which have been subject or witness to the extreme violence and barbaric
acts of poachers can develop aggressive and unpredictable behaviour. This is notably the case with elephants. In
the last pristine habitats Asia and Africa, these unknown heroes, look more like soldiers than boy-scouts or girlguides.
The simple light equipment consisting of a compass, binoculars, a flask of water and maybe a rope or two,
is now supplemented with heavy artillery. In what could be called the war to protect endangered species and
habitats, rangers can be subject to remote and extreme working conditions, low pay, little or no training, lack of
manpower and equipment. On the opposing side, poachers are often numerous, well equipped and well trained
by organised crime circuits in search of considerable profits from ‘white gold’ and ‘snake-oil’ remedies.
The growing Asian market has pushed demand and proceeds up so high that the power is with the poachers, a
power that generates ills and sufferings. Bribed trained service men, the military with their helicopters and war
equipment and corrupt officials all play their part on the bloody playing field. Sometimes the temptations are too
high and the rangers find themselves on the other side of the green line. Locals hesitate to denounce corrupt rangers
and officials as they are afraid of retaliations. The 2 nd On the Trail tells of these sad stories which unfortunately
are more and more frequent. In South America, Columbia a jewel of biodiversity, rangers find themselves in the
cross-fire of the army, the paramilitaries, the guerilla and the drug cartels.
The solutions to help those on the field are well known. They start by providing regular and correct wages and with
due regard to responsibilities and the incurring threats. It should also include decent working and living conditions
for rangers and their families. To deter poachers and in turn protect rangers, sophisticated equipment up to
the high stakes and the formidable enemy is needed. Examples include radio and GPS equipment and night-vision
goggles and tracker units with vehicles and air patrols to spot and deter and if necessary fight back the poachers.
The right training has to be provided, learning how to investigate scientifically wildlife crimes can help to prosecute
and convict criminals. With the right means, a strong determination and the benefit of cross-border information
exchanges, rangers can contribute to stabilize, even strengthen scarce populations of endangered species.
This is the case in the National Park Virunga in the east of the Congo Democratic Republic where the mountain
gorillas seem to be less threatened by poachers and more by industrial activities.
In the 1980s in Thung Yai-Huai and Kha Khaeng Thailand, tigers were almost decimated from the area. Poachers
had turned the area into a battle zone, at night the only sound that could be heard were the rounds of bullets.
Today, thanks to the efforts made in equipping and training rangers the region houses one of the world’s best tiger
reserves. However on the 12 th of September 2013, 2 rangers were killed in the Thung Yai, World Wildlife Sanctuary,
this very sad event reminds us that the battle is far from over. The International Ranger Federation (IRF) was called
upon to intervene. This organisation unites over 60 ranger associations in 46 countries, amongst other jobs, they
work year round to raise awareness and support the families of the victims. Strengthening the capacity and training
to deal with poaching is a priority and emergency for the security of the unknown ranger who provides the
day-to-day protection and monitoring of our biodiversity.
Beyond physical and legal protection the efficiency and security of rangers depend on the full awareness
by public opinion of their useful mission, and of their merits. It is also tributary to a common will from law
courts to punish in proportion to their crimes the poachers and the entire poaching networks. On one side
of Kruger Park, in South Africa a poacher could be sentenced to many years in jail on the Mozambique side
a poacher could get away with a slap on the hand.
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On The Trail # 2. Robin des Bois