The 'Loving' Rangers

On August 1st, World Ranger Day is celebrated. Rangers are those who take care of the lives of animals in protected areas and forests in all countries. Animals that are either at risk of extinction or whose skin and meat tempt some hunters to illegally poach and sell them. Rangers work long hours day and night in the mountains and valleys of protected areas, facing threats from both wild animals and certain hunters. In many countries, such as North America and Northern Europe, rangers work with the best facilities and equipment. However, in Iran, it is said that the Department of Environment lacks human resources, and rangers do not receive adequate wages for their difficult work. Additionally, the law often does not defend and protect rangers. It is said that being a ranger is a job that one must love; otherwise, one cannot endure it. However, this love comes with serious troubles. In the past three decades, at least 120 rangers have been killed, and at least 360 have been injured. All of these incidents occurred in confrontations between rangers and hunters who entered prohibited areas and shot where they were not allowed. According to the Department of Environment, there is only one ranger for every 40,000 hectares in Iran. The protection of ecosystems and protected areas in Iran is the responsibility of 2,700 rangers, a small number for such a vast area that is significantly affected by drought, the destruction of pastures, the loss of wetlands, and the killing of endangered animals.