Dr Tom Clements, Executive Director of Nature Conservation said:

“The role of a ranger stretches far beyond just protecting wildlife. They are educators, community supporters, researchers and scientists, from governments, organisations, local communities and Indigenous Peoples. They preserve cultural heritage, and they help safeguard and regulate the sustainable use of our planets most precious natural resources.

“Without the critical work of these guardians, there is no guarantee of the future of thousands of animal and plant species, let alone food security, clean water, or a functioning, stable economy for the human population.”

Guardians will be released on BBC Earth’s YouTube and social channels from Friday 23rd May, with a gripping new episode launching each week. The series was co-produced with award winning studio ZANDLAND and each episode offers exclusive access, interviews and dynamic storytelling from rangers across the world. The series follows the remarkable stories from:

  • Central African Republic and the breathtaking Dzangha-Sangha protected area, following a reformed poacher who now dedicates his life to protecting the wildlife he once hunted.
  • The Himalayas, India where high in the Spiti Valley rangers are working to bring co-existence between the snow leopards known as ‘Ghosts of the Himalayas’, and local communities.
  • Mexico’s Sea of Cortez once called ‘the world’s aquarium’ – and the story of a reformed illegal fisherman now working to protect this threatened ecosystem.
  • Kruger National Park in South Africa where teams work round the clock to protect, rescue and rehabilitate critically endangered rhinos which face daily poaching threats.
  • Sri Lanka where veterinary experts work tirelessly to rehabilitate elephants, leopards, and other wildlife, while balancing patrolling duties and mitigating human-elephant conflicts.
  • Caru Indigenous Land, Brazil and the community-led fight to preserve their heritage and protect ancestral lands from environmental destruction.

Last November, United for Wildlife’s Nature Protectors initiative committed a five-year financial package set to provide 10,000 rangers across Africa with access to appropriate, affordable in-service and medical evacuation insurance cover.

You can watch all episodes of ‘Guardians’ on BBC Earth’s YouTube channel.