Today is World Ranger Day when all the men and women who work to safeguard nature are honoured, remembered, and recognised.
Australia’s harsh environment, famously deadly creatures, and sheer size obviously present many difficulties for rangers across the country, but there are places elsewhere on the planet where the challenges are even greater.
The International Ranger Federation says these include everything from escalating climate extremes and biodiversity loss to increasing human-wildlife conflict, organised wildlife crime, and shifting social and political landscapes.
It says 147 rangers across 40 countries lost their lives between 2025 and 2026, with homicides accounting for 29% of these deaths. The second highest cause (22%) was attacks by the very wildlife rangers dedicate their lives to protecting.
Rangers in Australia patrol some challenging - but beautiful - country. PIC: DBCA / Samille Mitchell
It seems the loss of wild areas, expanding human-dominated landscapes, and the severing of wildlife corridors are intensifying human–wildlife conflict
The theme of this year’s Ranger Day is: ‘Rangers: Guardians of a Changing Planet’, recognises that rangers are working in a world defined by rapid and complex change.
Ranger Alex Mitchell surveys the land. PIC: DBCA / Samille Mitchell
In Australia, WA’s DBCA is keen to honour the work of rangers like Alex Little who works with the state’s Parks and Wildlife Service on Badimia Country at Karara Rangeland Park in the Murchison region, 400 kilometres north east of Perth.
It says the work is deeply personal to Alex, as Badimia Country was once home to his grandfather and great-grandfather.
The DBCA says, as a Badimia Ranger, Alex brings knowledge, respect and a strong connection to Country into his work, helping to care for the land, honour cultural sites, protect its natural values and share the importance of looking after these places for generations to come.
“This Country, Badimia Country, I describe it as God’s country … I mean, it’s just different,” said Alex. “You can drive to the same place 10 times a day and you get a different view of it, you get a different feel of it.”
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