It is never rosy out there, rangers face a lot of risks and dangers that many of us would not have been courageous enough to face.. One of the most pressing issues is the threat of violence from poachers and illegal loggers. Rangers often operate in remote and dangerous areas, where they may encounter armed individuals seeking to exploit natural resources illegally. This puts rangers at significant personal risk, with many losing their lives in the line of duty. This year alone (June 2023 - May 2024), according to the International Rangers Federation in their report published during this year’s rangers day, more than  42 rangers have lost their lives in Africa, 5 of these being Tanzanians. In total across the globe in the same time frame 140 rangers from 37 countries have lost their lives. Many more have been left injured and some disabled

Rangers also face harsh working conditions, often having to endure long hours, extreme weather, and rugged terrains. The physical demands of the job, combined with the emotional toll of witnessing the devastating impacts of poaching and habitat destruction, can lead to high levels of stress and burnout. These conditions make it even harder for female rangers who sometimes need to go out to the field even when they are pregnant. Although female rangers are expected to do office work when pregnant Ainitha Albert from Matambwe (Nyerere National Park), says, “in the early months of pregnancy which are the hardest you are expected to go for patrols, staying there for days sometimes, with all the morning sickness and other early pregnancy discomforts you are expected to execute your share of assignments like everyone else. I went to the patrols until I was six months pregnant, although it was not expected I had to go because of the allowances that are provided when one is in the field. I needed the money to prepare for the arrival of my child”. Mercy Sommy, another female ranger says poachers when faced with a female ranger usually become aggressive believing that the female rangers are not strong enough. “It is sometimes scary when you come across a huge poacher who believes you are not strong enough. I am grateful that we move most of the time as a team and that is always very helpful”. 

In Enduimet the number of female rangers is slowly increasing and this is a major step especially in a  Maasai community where even in other activities women are usually behind the men due to cultural reasons and community perception. There are now 10 female rangers out of 39. According to the survey done by WWF International in 26 countries with 6,241 rangers, only 7.5% are female rangers. In their paper Where are the Women, Joni Seager et al (2021) says, The ranger workforce is currently characterized by an extreme gender skew. Exact data—or even reliable estimates—are scarce, but the general understanding is that only 3–11% of the global ranger workforce is female, with considerable local variation (Belecky et al. 2019). Although consideration of the gender context for a workforce often starts with numbers, achieving greater gender balance requires a much more comprehensive understanding of the problems and a wide-net approach to solution

angers often work with limited resources and support. Inadequate funding for equipment, training, and salaries can hinder their ability to effectively carry out their duties. This lack of resources not only affects their safety and well-being but also impacts the overall effectiveness of conservation efforts.

WWF Tanzania works closely with rangers from different Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and conservation areas from different Landscapes including SOKNOT and Ruvuma Landscapes. Enduimet is one of the WMAs that we are working with and support. Apart from supporting them with capacity building through different training, we also help in improving their working conditions by providing them with working gears and equipment. 

Rangers Day is an opportunity to honor these brave men and women for their unwavering commitment to protecting our natural world. It is also a time to raise awareness about the challenges they face and advocate for better support and recognition of their work. By acknowledging the critical role rangers play in conservation, we can foster greater appreciation for their contributions and help ensure they have the resources and support needed to continue their vital work.let us remember the sacrifices made by these dedicated individuals and reaffirm our collective commitment to wildlife conservation. Their efforts are crucial in ensuring that future generations can enjoy the rich biodiversity that makes our planet unique.