Rangers face a ‘toxic mix’ of mental strain and lack of support

On April 9, suspected members of an armed militia gunned down five wildlife rangers and their driver in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was the worst attack in Virunga’s bloody history, and the latest in a long line of tragic incidents in which rangers have lost their lives defending the planet’s natural heritage. Rangers bury Buzara Habimana, killed on patrol in Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2008. “They had to go to work that afternoon, no counseling, just back to it,” said Sean Willmore, founder of the Thin Green Line Foundation, which supports rangers worldwide. Image by the Thin Green Line Foundation. But it’s not just danger that rangers must contend with. Mongabay spoke with people who have worked with or alongside front-line ranger forces in Africa and Asia. They described challenging working conditions, community ostracization, isolation from family, poor equipment and inadequate training for many rangers — all for low pay and little respect. “The pressure is relentless, there is no respite” said Elise Serfontein, founding director of Stop Rhino Poaching. “The physical and mental fatigue is taking its toll.” Despite a growing awareness of the vulnerability of many of the world’s most beloved and charismatic species, such as elephants and rhinos, there is little awareness and virtually no research into the stress and possible mental health implications for those tasked with defending them. In fact, more research has been conducted on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among elephants following…

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