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New Field Ranger Training Guidelines To Help Save Lives Of Those On Front Line Of Poaching Battle

For immediate release

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Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) changed its name to Re:wild in 2021

For immediate release

February 9, 2017

In the midst of a global poaching crisis, Feb. 9 marks the launch of the most comprehensive Training Guidelines for Field Rangers, providing anti-poaching units with a revolutionary resource to improve conditions and training on the front line. This is the first of its kind and a resource that could save the lives of both humans and wildlife.

“Rangers are on the front line against wildlife crime and it is a dangerous job,” said Barney Long, director of species conservation for Global Wildlife Conservation, one of a number of organizations that helped with a collaborative effort to develop these guidelines. “These best practice guidelines will help rangers get the training they need and deserve to do their job effectively and safely.”

Over the past decade, more than 1,000 rangers have been killed on duty*, with 80 percent murdered by poachers and armed militia groups. This tragic loss of life underlines the need for well-trained and well-equipped anti-poaching rangers.

The team of experts who developed this resource have more than a century of combined experience and are among the most respected wildlife rangers in the world. This is the first in a series of guidelines that will be rolled out worldwide by the International Ranger Federation, the Global Tiger Forum, Thin Green Line Foundation, PAMS Foundation and WWF.

“The illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products is resulting in significant declines in the populations of many species across the globe,” said Sean Willmore, president of the International Ranger Federation. “For example, the levels of poaching of elephants, rhinos, pangolins and tigers are threatening these species with extinction in the wild. Anti-poaching training needs to be effective so that protected area authorities and rangers can better safeguard wildlife from this grave threat.”

The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth most lucrative criminal trade and estimated to be worth at least USD $19 billion per year. Poachers targeting iconic species such as elephants, rhinos and tigers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques and violent tactics to fulfill their missions. The deployment of insufficiently trained rangers has at times resulted in the failure of operations, serious injuries and even death. Many rangers still have no insurance today; should they suffer injuries–or even death–they would no longer be able to provide for their families.

“The stark reality for rangers means facing the threat of serious injury or the loss of life on a daily basis,” said Rajesh Gopal, secretary general of the Global Tiger Forum. “Very often, operations fail due to lack of training, funding and staffing. This must change if we hope to protect our wildlife and greatly improve the lives of those striving to do so.”

Last year, WWF carried out the first-ever Ranger Perception Surveys that were completed by wildlife rangers across Asia and Africa. The results revealed that most rangers had faced a life-threatening situation while on duty, and believe that they are under equipped. Nearly half felt they lacked adequate training to do their jobs safely and effectively.

“It is essential that rangers have the essential skills, tools and training to do their job safely and successfully,” said Wayne Lotter with the PAMS Foundation. “The development of the best practice guidelines represents a landmark step in the process towards ensuring that anti-poaching rangers get the level of training they deserve.”

Field ranger basic training is the most important part of the development of field rangers. It prepares them for the actual circumstances that they will encounter during the day-to-day tasks to be performed once employed as field rangers.

Field rangers play a critical role in safeguarding the world’s most endangered species. Recent figures revealed around 20,000 elephants are poached every year in Africa. Since Selous Game Reserve became a World Heritage site in 1982, nearly 90 percent of its elephants have been lost mainly due to poaching. Selous now risks losing its World Heritage status. Across Asia, the 13 tiger ranger countries are working tirelessly to double tiger numbers by 2022–the illegal wildlife trade is one of the greatest threats with recent progress hanging on a knife edge due to this illicit activity.

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Notes to Editor

Download: Training Guidelines for Field Rangers and images here

Additional information

The Training Guidelines for Field Rangers is the first of a series of guidelines to provide a standard for training field rangers. These guidelines are the result of a collaborative initiative from International Ranger Federation, Global Tiger Forum, PAMS Foundation, WWF, The Thin Green Line Foundation, United For Rangers (UFR), Southern African Wildlife College, International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF), Conservation International, African Parks Network, TRAFFIC, Panthera, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC).

The guidelines cover the basics of operations and the tactics required for them to successfully carry out anti-poaching operations in the field. The guidelines will help park managers, conservation organisations, government departments and other relevant people in designing the training curriculum for anti-poaching rangers as per their needs. By following these high standards, it will help ensure that anti-poaching training manuals may adequately introduce the concepts and specifics of law enforcement, tracking, teamwork, conservation, first aid and court procedures to the field ranger.

*Source Thin Green Line Foundation

Contact

Lindsay Renick Mayer

Global Wildlife Conservation

lrenickmayer@globalwildlife.org

512-686-6225

Lianne Mason

WWF-UK

lmason@wwf.org.uk

+44 777 1818699

Rohit Singh

Wildlife Law Enforcement Specialist

WWF Wildlife Crime Initiative

rsingh@wwfnet.org

+855 952028949

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