Support of Wildlife Rangers

We support rangers through capacity building, employment and welfare, equality and equity, community relations as well as ranger accountability.

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%
THE PECENTAGE OF THE PLANET'S SURFACE THE UN WANTS TO PROTECT BY 2030
%
THE AMOUNT OF RANGERS THAT REPORT HAVING RECEIVED CURRENT MEDICAL TRAINING
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTED ANNUAL RANGER DEATHS

WHO ARE THE WILDLIFE RANGERS?

Wildlife rangers are our planet's frontline defenders of habitats and the species that reside within them, risking their lives to protect the natural world from poaching, habitat destruction, and a host of other threats. Their work is vital to safeguarding the planet's biodiversity for future generations and promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

 

However, rangers face a multitude of challenges, including long hours in remote and dangerous areas with limited support, resulting in one in seven rangers suffering serious injuries while on duty and over 150 rangers dying every year. Only 15% of rangers report receiving current medical training or having access to medical kits, which is unacceptable.

 

Wildlife rangers face a number of risks in their profession, including:

Illegal Wildlife Trade

Rangers often have to confront armed criminals (also called "poachers")  who are illegally harvesting wildlife or flora for their meat, ivory, or other valuable parts. Many of these criminals are well-organized and well-armed groups that don't hesitate to use violence to protect their illegal activities and profits.

Illegal LOGGING & MINING

Rangers also have to protect forests and other habitats from illegal logging and mining activities. These activities often involve armed groups that are also engaged in other illegal activities, such as poaching, drug smuggling, and human and weapons trafficking.

HUMAN - WILDLIFE CONFLICT

Rangers and conservationists have to deal with human-wildlife conflict, which occurs when wild animals come into conflict with humans over resources such as food, water, and land. This conflict can lead to the loss of crops and livestock, as well as the injury or death of humans and wildlife.

LACK OF RESOURCES

Rangers often work in remote areas with limited access to resources, making it difficult for them to respond quickly to threats or emergencies. They often lack adequate training and equipment, such as protective gear, patrol rations, and communications equipment.

CORRUPTION & POLITICAL INSTABILITY

Rangers may face corruption and political instability in the countries where they work, which can make it difficult for them to do their jobs effectively and safely.

R.A.M.P

In early 2020, Wild Response piloted its first Ranger Casualty Care course in South Africa. The program was a resounding success. It has now grown and evolved into our cutting-edge Ranger Advanced Medical Program—realistic, hands-on, scenario-based training that is already saving lives in the field.

 

RAMP offers comprehensive medical training in a variety of critical skills, such as first responder trauma care, austere medical training, K9 med and snake bite awareness programs through the "Snake Bite Foundation." In addition to hands-on training, RAMP places the trainees in real-world situations and scenarios taken directly from field incidents. This training boosts confidence and camaraderie in units as well as making adjacent rural communities safer, i.e., the distance from a trained responder in an emergency.

RAMP logo

RAMP was created specifically to meet the needs of Rangers. This is not a military or police course. We are leading the way in medical programs for conservation.

Over 500 Rangers trained across Africa.

OVER 500 medical trauma kits donated to Rangers.

Created a RAMP K9 for working anti-poaching K9 teams. Has already saved A K9 life in the field from a Hippo attack

Partnered with A Snake Bite Foundation to address one of the 3rd world's most devastating and horrifying injuries.

Stop the Bleed®

Stop the Bleed® (STB) is a national awareness campaign that started in the United States but has now grown into a global initiative that teaches individuals how to react to and control preventable life-threatening bleeding: one of the leading causes of death in emergency situations.

STB has awarded Wild Response its own accredited and recognized "STB for Conservation" program, an initiative we are rolling out on a large scale to conservation practitioners and rural communities alongside protected areas globally. This training will make the world a safer place for everyone!

The training covers how to stay safe, how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take immediate action to control it by applying pressure to wounds, packing wounds, and using tourniquets. Wild Response primarily targets the training of wildlife rangers and local communities in areas where they work.

By training trainers in STB within conservation, Wild Response empowers others to educate their teams, families, and communities to save a life when minutes count.

CREATED BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS AND ADMINSTERED BY THE COMMITTEE ON TRAUMA.

WE'VE TRAINED 100S OF RANGERS AND CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS IN STOP THE BLEED GLOBALLY

WE AIM TO TRAIN RANGERS IN STOP THE BLEED IN ALL NATIONAL PARKS

WE ALSO SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH STOP THE BLEED TRAINING IN AFRICA AND ASIA

At Wild Response, we prioritize building relationships with our peers and organizations that share our conservation values in order to collaborate and support each other towards our shared goals.

URSA
IRF_Logo_Rectangle_Colour

One such partnership we have is with the Universal Rangers Support Alliance (URSA), which provides resources and aid to rangers worldwide who are dedicated to preserving wildlife and natural resources.

 

We strongly identify with URSA's mission and by working together and applying these themes we can , we can promote equity and equality among the ranger workforce, develop tools and resources for rangers, advocate for rangers, build positive relationships with communities, and ensure accountability and responsible conduct from rangers.

Wild Response is a proud member of the International Ranger Federation (IRF), an organization that supports park rangers and their efforts to safeguard natural and cultural heritage.

 

The IRF provides a platform for rangers to exchange expertise, advocates for their safety and needs, and raises public awareness about the crucial role of rangers in conservation. Membership in the IRF strengthens Wild Response's legitimacy and credibility in conservation efforts.

As a member of the International Ranger Federation and the Universal Rangers Support Alliance, Wild Response is committed to supporting rangers in five key areas, including providing industry-leading medical and Stop the Bleed training to save lives and improve conservationist safety.

OUR ACTION PLAN

our process

0.1 INITIAL TRAINING OR CONSULTATION

We often begin with critical lifesaving training to address the over 151 Rangers that have died in the line of duty last year.

0.2 ASSESSMENT

This step starts concurrently with provision of lifesaving training and continues throughout the relationship.

03. SCHEDULE FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY

Based on the unique needs of the partner we will develop a shared plan to further professionalize the conservation practitioners and improve the overall conservation program.