Rangers
As the world celebrates World Rangers day, John Lentulla’ scars are a sign of reflection of the challenges he and his colleague undergo daily in protecting the country’s pricy wildlife heritage.
Lentulla a ranger from Elmamus Community in Mukogodo forest, Laikipia County narrates how he missed death by whisker following banditry attacks on June 22, 2022 while in pursuit of stolen camels between Isiolo and Laikipia border. He was speaking at Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Laikipia station as he joined over 250 rangers to mark the World Rangers day that is celebrated on July 31 annually.
The day is meant to celebrate the incredible work rangers do in protecting the country’s treasure and at the same time remember those who died or were injured in the line of duty like Lentulla. This year’s World ranger’s day theme 30 by 30, further sought to draw attention to the role that rangers play to ensure the target of achieving 30 percent of area under conservation in the country by the year 2030.
As he narrates the deadly ordeal, one can quickly notice a scar on his left cheeks and some slurred speech which he quickly points out to us was as a result of the killer bullet, a day that forever remains etched in his mind. “As a ranger we go through a lot of challenges in the endeavour to protect wildlife from poachers and also presence of bandits in the forest, I am a victim of gunmen who shot at me while trailing stolen camels. That’s why I can’t speak clearly,” reveals Lentulla.
At the same time, he points out that despite the challenges they encounter while in their daily routine including stress related issues, he was happy to join other rangers in the county to share experiences.
“I am happy as a ranger to celebrate with my colleague and glad for the support we receive from KWS, we are the ones at the grassroots level and they have entrusted us with the conservation responsibilities, we update them on all what is happening,” He notes.
Rangers commemorating world rangers day in Nanyuki, Laikipia county on Wednesday, July 31,2024 . Over 250 rangers took part
Lentulla is among thousands of rangers across the country who have encountered similar incidents or even worse at the hands of bandits and sometimes wildlife attacks while in the line of duty. Joyce Naiptali, a ranger from Naibunga Lower Conservancy in Laikipia North says that her only challenge is human wildlife conflict and especially during this rainy season.
She however applauds KWS for their quick responses in addressing human wildlife related incidents whenever she calls upon them. The rangers reveal that technology advancement has aided in monitoring wildlife and make their work easier as compared to previous years.
Laikipia East Deputy Commissioner Patrick Muli said that rangers needed support aimed at motivating them and making them feel as part of the society. “This is a very important occasion in being together with our rangers since they also need to feel that they belong to the society,” said the administrator, adding that with technology, wildlife conservation was on the right path.
KWS Mount Kenya Region Assistant Director Elema Hapicha pointed out that rangers were the backbone of wildlife conservation and hence celebrating the work of rangers was remarkable. She said that Laikipia County hosted three quarters of the wildlife endangered species both the black and white rhino, which rangers had been in the frontline protecting.
She pointed out rangers encountered unique challenges from Aberdare Forest, Mount Kenya and the vast Laikipia landscape which arose from different wild animal species. “We have had interactions from rangers coming from different conservancies so that they can share the challenges that they go through as far as wildlife conservation in various sites are concerned,” said the KWS Mt. Kenya region boss.
Additionally, she revealed that rangers had field excursions to Olpajeta to learn about the latest technologies that aided the work of a ranger.
On his part, KWS Director General Dr. Erastus Kanga who was also the chief guest during the world ranger’s day celebrations in Nanyuki, lauded the rangers for their strong commitment to KWS conservation led campaign dubbed ” Tunza Mali Yako and for being in frontline on nurturing and protecting Kenya’s natural heritage.
Meanwhile, according to the International Rangers Federation (IRF), this year alone about 140 rangers in 37 countries are reported to have lost their lives and over 1300 have died in the past 10 years while in line of duty.