To celebrate World Ranger Day on 31 July this year, we interviewed some of the Wildlife Rangers we support across Sumatra and Borneo. We asked them what they love about their role, some of the challenges they face, and how their work is making a difference. We’re delighted to share two stories here. Thank you to Dyana, Aries, and all Wildlife Rangers for the challenging and crucial work you do.
Dyana is Coordinator of our Elephant Conseration and Monitoring Unit, working to protect Sumatran elephants in the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem (BTP)
What do you love about your work?
This is called love, working with such charismatic beings as elephants. I love making stories through environmental education programs for young people. I also love the working with community to reduce human-elephant conflict by increasing awareness about the need to protect the elephants and habitat.
What are some of the main challenges you face?
The hardest thing working in BTP is driving a motorbike over a hard field; even after rain it becomes so slippery and muddy. Furthermore, the hardest thing and that has made me unenthusiastic is when I see large loss of habitat. I wonder, "Why it is never enough and why does it still occur?"
How is your work making a difference?
I told villagers, “Treat elephants well, because the elephants won’t harm humans if they don’t feel threatened. Throwing a stone could make an elephant feel threatened and angry, and harm you back.” Some of the villagers later told me that elephants entered their land. Instead of throwing stones, they said, “Hello, elephants. You want to eat my plants and I also want to eat from my land, so please don’t eat all of the plants. The elephants then moved away from there.” Some people believe that when they’re speaking this way to elephants, their land is safer.
Aries is the Field Coordinator at the Sumatran Ranger Project, based in nothern Sumatra on the fringes of the Leuser Ecosystem
What do you love about your work?
What makes me love being a ranger is that I can dedicate my rest of life to protecting nature, both flora and fauna.
What are some of the main challenges you face?
The main challenge I face is uneducated communities who don't understand nature is very important for sustainability and life.
How is your work making a difference?
I campaign, educate, socialise, and implement with a good example of how to protect nature:
Campaigning for change Socialisation with local community (community outreach and engagement) Educating people on how important nature is Applying my knowledge through patrolling and monitoring Collecting data to stop poaching and all activities that harm nature
