Honouring the Guardians of the Wild

Every year on July 31st, the world pauses to honour the brave men and women who stand on the frontlines of conservation, rangers. World Ranger Day is both a tribute and a call to action: to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty, and to recognise the ongoing courage and commitment of those who protect our planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems and species.

Rangers are much more than wildlife protectors. They are first responders, researchers, community liaisons, educators, and peacekeepers, often operating in remote, dangerous, and politically unstable regions. Their work is crucial not only to biodiversity conservation but also to the social and ecological stability of many rural landscapes across the globe.

At The Long Run, we believe that true sustainability lies in a holistic commitment to Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce (the 4Cs). Our members demonstrate this philosophy daily, with many investing deeply in ranger-led initiatives to secure the future of both nature and people.

In this blog we share a glimpse into the inspirational work of our members who support, empower, and work alongside rangers in their mission to safeguard the wild. 

Borana Conservancy, Kenya: Rangers as peacekeepers and protectors

At the heart of Borana Conservancy is a ranger programme widely regarded as one of the most effective in East Africa. Home to critically endangered black rhino, Borana’s 120+ rangers form the backbone of a conservation strategy that has recorded zero rhino poaching incidents for over a decade.

These rangers are not only responsible for anti-poaching operations and wildlife monitoring, they are also ambassadors for community relations, most recruited from surrounding neighbourhoods. Through partnerships with Kenya Wildlife Service and community-based conservation projects, Borana’s ranger force is a living example of what happens when conservation and community are united.

Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania: Marine rangers safeguarding the reef

On the shores of Zanzibar lies Chumbe Island, a pioneering example of marine conservation led by local rangers. The Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) employs and trains rangers from nearby fishing communities to patrol and protect its award-winning coral reef sanctuary, home to over 500 fish species, rare corals, and endangered coconut crabs.

Rangers here are not only guardians of the reef; they are also guides, offering environmental briefings and leading guest activities such as guided snorkelling, forest walks, and night-time coconut crab walks. Chumbe’s ranger team includes Guiding Rangers, responsible for guest engagement and ecological monitoring in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) and forest reserve, and Patrol Rangers, who oversee boat operations and the enforcement of MPA boundaries. Their work ensures that conservation is not just top-down enforcement but a community-owned legacy, built on shared knowledge, pride, and care for the marine environment.

The Hide Safari Camp, Zimbabwe: Conservation in partnership with community

Nestled within Hwange National Park, The Hide Safari Camp works closely with the Conservation & Wildlife Fund (CWF) and other regional partners to strengthen ranger capacity. The park’s rangers, tasked with patrolling vast tracts of wilderness, face immense challenges, from climate related issues to poaching pressure.

The Hide contributes to the welfare of ranger teams through capacity building initiatives, provision of crucial equipment and food supplies, as well as ground operations support. It also enables community outreach, recognising that sustainable conservation depends on fostering positive relationships between rangers and the people who share the landscape.

Sala’s Camp, Kenya: Protecting the birthplace of the great migration

Located in the southernmost corner of Kenya’s Maasai Mara, Sala’s Camp operates in a biodiversity hotspot where wildlife protection and community engagement go hand-in-hand. The camp collaborates closely with Maasai rangers, many of whom are local to the area, to monitor wildlife movements, deter poaching, and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

In the Masai Mara National Reserve, Sala’s Camp supports the specialist Mara Rhino Ranger Unit and through tools like EarthRanger, ear-notching, GPS trackers, LoRaWAN, camera traps and the new Maasai Mara Conservation Centre, The Safari Collection's Footprint Trust is helping the Mara's rangers monitor and protect their critically endangered black rhino population.

Segera Retreat, Kenya: Regeneration powered by rangers

Once a degraded cattle ranch, Segera Retreat has been transformed into a biodiverse conservation haven, thanks in no small part to its team of rangers and land stewards. Rangers here oversee a 50,000-acre mosaic of savannah and woodland, where they track wildlife movements, restore native vegetation, and monitor rewilding efforts.

Segera’s ranger programme is deeply integrated with local knowledge systems and is supported by technology, training, and investment in ranger welfare. Their work helps re-establish ecological corridors for species such as elephants, lions, and giraffes, while also strengthening human-wildlife coexistence through outreach and education.

Singita Sabi Sand, South Africa: Data-Driven conservation at scale

At Singita Sabi Sand in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Singita’s dedicated Anti- Poaching Field Ranger and K9 team are at the heart  innovative wildlife protection strategies. This dedicated team works tirelessly in monitoring animal behaviour, identifying threats, and following up on early alerts received by various layers of surveillance technology.

Singita also invests in the next generation of wildlife guardians through the Singita Lowveld Trust, which supports tracker training, ecological monitoring, and advances in technology-based surveillance. The SLT supports the protection of iconic species such as rhinos, vultures, lions, leopards, and wild dogs, while contributing to long-term ecosystem resilience in one of Africa’s largest protected areas - the greater Kruger region.

Why World Ranger Day Matters

The International Ranger Federation (IRF) reports that over 1,000 rangers have died in the line of duty over the past decade. Many of these deaths go unreported. Rangers often face underfunding, inadequate equipment, and lack of recognition, all while risking their lives to protect what many of us take for granted.

This World Ranger Day, we call on governments, businesses, and conservation organisations to make a difference and to support our Rangers by:

1. Invest in ranger training, health, and safety

Behind every successful conservation programme is a ranger team that is skilled, motivated, and supported. Yet, far too often, rangers operate without adequate equipment, basic health coverage, or access to ongoing training. Many patrol dangerous terrain with outdated gear, limited communication tools, and minimal first-aid knowledge, despite the physical and psychological risks they face daily.

Investment in continuous professional development, trauma-informed care, field-based technology, and wellness programmes isn't a luxury, it’s essential. Empowered rangers are more effective, more resilient, and more likely to stay committed long-term.

Supporting ranger safety is not just a matter of dignity, it’s a matter of impact. Conservation begins with those on the ground.

2. Support locally-led ranger initiatives

Local communities are the most powerful allies in conservation, and rangers drawn from those communities are often the most effective. They know the land intimately. They understand the dynamics between people and wildlife. They bring cultural legitimacy to conservation efforts and act as bridges between traditional knowledge and scientific approaches.

Supporting community-based ranger models means investing in livelihoods, creating conservation ownership, and embedding protection within the cultural fabric of a landscape. When rangers are locally hired, trained, and respected, conservation becomes a shared mission, not an external imposition.

Conservation succeeds when rangers protect not just wildlife, but their own heritage, identity, and future.

3. Elevate the profile of rangers as conservation professionals

Rangers are not just field workers. They are wildlife biologists, first responders, educators, negotiators, and ecosystem managers. Yet despite their critical role in achieving global biodiversity targets, rangers often receive little recognition, limited career pathways, and inadequate compensation.

World Ranger Day is a call to elevate ranger roles to professional status, with access to accreditation, specialised training, and the respect afforded to scientists, ecologists, and policy-makers. These are not menial jobs, they are frontline careers in climate resilience and biodiversity security.

It’s time the world saw rangers not as foot soldiers, but as professional conservation leaders.

4. Recognise rangers as agents of peace and resilience

In regions plagued by poverty, conflict, or environmental degradation, rangers are often the first line of stability. Their presence helps deter illegal activities, fosters coexistence between communities and wildlife, and restores trust in protected areas. In many places, rangers have brokered peace between rival groups, rescued injured animals, and educated the next generation of conservationists.

As climate change intensifies, and competition over land and water increases, rangers will become even more vital, not just in protecting biodiversity, but in maintaining social cohesion and ecological balance.

Rangers are not just fighting for wildlife, they’re defending the possibility of a peaceful, biodiverse future for us all.

Standing With the Guardians of the Wild

At The Long Run, we are proud to stand alongside member destinations that place the highest value on their rangers, not only as protectors of biodiversity but as symbols of resilience, dedication, and hope.

Let us use this day not only to remember and honour but also to amplify the voices of rangers, advocate for their safety, and support the critical work they do every day for the planet.