Rangers work under some of the toughest conditions in the world. The inherent dangers that accompany the job are compounded by a lack of adequate training and equipment, limited support from government authorities and a lack of respect shown from the general population.

A survey carried out by WWF across Asia and Central Africa, has concluded that one in seven wildlife rangers have been seriously injured at work within the last twelve months. Not only do rangers face the risk of being harmed by illegal poachers, but they are also at risk from dangerous encounters with wildlife and a lack of medical facilities to treat illness and infectious disease such as malaria.

The International Ranger Federation & Thin Green Line Foundation confirmed that the official death toll from July 2017-2018, whether from harm caused by illegal poachers or poor environmental conditions, was 107 rangers, which has increased from 101 from the previous year. Over nine years, this has accumulated to approximately 871 deaths for rangers on the frontline, in just nine years.

Aside from the direct threats to their life, rangers spend weeks, sometimes months away from their family and friends with this having an unquestionable emotional toll on the rangers. Time away from loved ones, coupled with very low pay, inadequate equipment to fulfil their duties and often having no access to electricity or clean drinking water, are all major challenges faced by rangers on a daily basis.

The failure of the government in many Asian countries to address the shortcomings of the job that endangers the lives of wildlife rangers, means that other organisations are helping to fill the gaps with emergency medical treatment plans, provision of equipment appropriate for the field conditions and the provision of training that will increase resilience in the field.