World Ranger Day takes place on the 31st July. #WorldRangerDay2026 #Istandwithrangers
The 31st July is World Ranger Day, a chance to raise awareness of the incredible work that rangers do all over the world, and to thank them. And although sadly she is no longer with us, the Thin Green Line Foundation have released this very moving video featuring Jane Goodall.
In a world which is so very turbulent, can we please all hold on to her message of hope, and do what we can to help those who are putting their lives on the line every day and for our own wildlife. May God bless rangers everywhere, and look after them and their families.
Thank you, each and every one of you. Please stay safe.
Rangers are vital for wildlife, their habitat - and so all our wellbeing. They are a very, very brave body of people and they do far more than anti-poaching patrols. Save the Rhino have 6 things rangers would want the world to know about rangers, their roles and the challenges they face.
Rangers are killed in their work every year, by heavily armed and extremely organised poachers. This leaves the Rangers’ families behind, trying to fend for themselves. The Thin Green Line Foundation has a Roll of Honour for 2026 for those rangers killed in action - 147 rangers in 40 countries. It recognises their incredible bravery, commitment and sacrifice. Let us remember them and honour them. The Thin Green Line Foundation says that over the last 10 years, 1,000 rangers have been killed in the line of duty. It helps those families of those who have been killed and who are otherwise left with nothing.
In Pakistan, the Pamir Times announced earlier this month that Pakistan's leading rangers, wildlife conservationists and community organisations will be honoured this month at the 2026 Conservation Awards. The winners of the awards will be presented on World Ranger Day in Islamabad. Find out about it here.
The day also celebrates the work that Rangers do to protect earth and her heritage worldwide.
Please spend some time exploring the links from these pages and donate, if you can, for instance to the International Ranger Foundation.
It's World Ranger Day on 31st July
Watch for, follow and use these hashtags:
#WorldRangerDay2026
#WorldRangerDay
#WildlifeRangers
#RangersDeserveMore
#IStandWithRangers
#IAmARanger
#Rangers:GuardiansofaChangingPlanet
There's a World Ranger Day 2026 Social Media Toolkit and Support Pack.
The Thin Green Line Foundation says it has these strategies for 2026-2030 (and I quote):
TRAIN: Strengthen ranger capacity through training partnerships that enhance safety and effectiveness, focusing on scalable impact
EQUIP: Increase the number of critical response grants annually to support more under-resourced ranger teams with greater impact
RESPOND: Increase the annual number of Fallen Ranger families receiving support, through enhanced case identification and network collaborations
EMPOWER: Scale up nature education access for the next generation of nature protectors though the Junior Ranger program.
It's the Wildlife Ranger Challenge - this is a physical endurance event connecting 170+ Wildlife Ranger teams from 24 African countries. It aims to increase global recognition of the importance of the Wildlife Ranger profession, raise crucial funds for Rangers' frontline conservation work and foster connection and camaraderie amongst those taking part.
Lewa is celebrating the courage and commitment of their rangers, and also the innovation that empowers them to protect Kenya's extraordinary wildlife. Tools such as thermal drones, AI-powered cameras, real-time monitoring systems enable their rangers to respond faster, work more safely and make better decisions when every minute counts. And they have a match funded appeal until 31 July 2026.
World Ranger Day is an International Ranger Foundation initiative promoted with The Thin Green Line Foundation.
The IRF's mission is “to develop, advance and promote throughout the world community, the Ranger profession and its critical role in conservation of natural and cultural resources.” You can read its objectives here. They have 160 member organisations across 7 regions of the world.
The Thin Green Line Foundation is dedicated to protecting wildlife by supporting rangers on the frontline of wildlife and habitat conservation. Its projects focus on supporting rangers’ needs, with emphasis on those in low-income countries and conflict zones, and it works in over 60 countries with ranger groups, ranger associations and conservation partners. It's in Australia, and in the UK, take a look at Working for the Wild. In the USA, the registerd charity partner is Born Free USA
The theme in 2026 is Rangers: Guardians of a Changing Planet - A Legacy of Protection, Courage, and Service
Rangers, indigenous people, community and volunteer guardians and privately managed areas all play a crucial role. And it’s a broad one – protection, conservation, monitoring, visitor services, fire management, law enforcement, education, community support and the regulation of sustainable use are all part of this.
So what is being done around the world? What are Rangers involved with? On World Ranger Day when you start to look at what Rangers are doing, there’s far more than one originally thinks and the 31st July is a very good opportunity to tell people about that, and how they can get involved and help. Please join in on social media!
#WorldRangerDay2026
#WorldRangerDay
#WildlifeRangers
#RangersDeserveMore
#IStandWithRangers
#IAmARanger
The World Land Trust supports conservation projects around the world. Marcelo Ortega is the restoration coordinator at the Fundación Proyecto Tití (FPT) Los Titíes de San Juan Reserve in Colombia and you can find out about what a day in the life of a ranger is like here. Why not support WLT's Keepers of the Wild campaign and support rangers?
The Trust has 26 anti-poaching teams, in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service, and including a Canine Unit. They are trained and equipped to deal with illegal activities. They also have a Water for Wildlife Project.
Take a look at Dartmoor National Park, which has rangers - including junior and youth rangers! Their 365 day role is varied, and includes enforcing bye-laws, helping emergency services, researching, surveying and monitoring, practical conservation work and educating and advising! Find out more here
And see how rangers and volunteers have been working at the Chichester Harbour Conservancy.
Paso Pacifico have a sea turtle conservation programme. With the help of supporters, local community rangers receive stable employment with social benefits and they can help protect sea turtles from poachers. They also have a junior ranger programme for children aged 8 to 13. They have teams of community forest rangers who patrol the forest, protect wildlife and collect data about the black-handed spider monkeys. They are working to strengthen these teams, and put aside more core spider monkey habitats. See also how the rangers are helping jaguars. Find out more here
In Australia...
Take a look at Parks Victoria and find out about their rangers and the work they do to project natural treasures, biodiversity and our cultural heritage.
"The role of a wildlife ranger is vital if we are to win the war against wildlife crime," says the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. They are vital in protecting the wildlife we all love so very much.