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Wildlife Rangers' Lives Matter!
I have pledged and dedicated my whole life to nature protection. I have carried rations and pieces of equipment like a donkey during operations on the frontline. I have slept on hard ground and rock stone as my pillow.
I have pledged and dedicated my whole life to nature protection. I have carried rations and pieces of equipment like a donkey during operations on the frontline. I have slept on hard ground and rock stone as my pillow.
I have been chased/attacked by wild animals especially lions, buffaloes and elephants, bitten by red ants and scorpions on the frontline. I have chased poachers through the woods and waded through large crocodile infected rivers.
I have had poachers try to stab me and have fought with poachers trying to shoot me. I have been bitten by the poachers during the arresting procedure. I have pulled out, carried dead, mangled bodies of my colleagues killed by wild animals
I have lied to my colleagues as they were dying. I said you are going to be fine as I held their hand and watched the life fade out. Done First Aid when I knew it wouldn't help just to make fellow Officers feel better.
I have been insulted, attacked by women while I was arresting their husbands for poaching. I have been in high-speed car chases during illegal wildlife trade investigation operations. Foot chases across roads during rush hour traffic
Drove like a madman to help rescue fellow officers from the angry mob. I have missed Christmas and other holidays more than I wanted to. My family has been insulted and threatened by the community because of me being a ranger. I have been warned, threatened for doing my work and
not to speak out by forces within and outside the system. I have been investigated, accused and sent to jail by the system I serve for doing my work.
Every wildlife Officer I know has done all these things and more for lousy pay, exhausting hours, and a short life expectancy.
Every wildlife Officer I know has done all these things and more for lousy pay, exhausting hours, and a short life expectancy.
I on behalf of all Wildlife Rangers don't want your pity, am not asking for your respect. I just want you to let us do our work of protecting our natural resources given to us by God as our heritage without you harassing us.
At times when a difference is demonized and diversity is seen as an obstacle I’m unapologetic about who I am, where I am, and my determination to do what matters!
I’m part of the eco-system, I’m a Wildlife Ranger, I’m a Father, and I Matter!
I’m part of the eco-system, I’m a Wildlife Ranger, I’m a Father, and I Matter!
