World Ranger Day is observed globally on July 31st to honor the brave colleagues who dedicate their lives to safeguarding the planet’s natural treasures and cultural heritage.
Park rangers are on the front line in the fight to protect wildlife. Their vital work includes environmental advocacy, species monitoring, and public education. World Ranger Day is a time to show appreciation for their unwavering commitment. And to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
On this day, we pay tribute to these dedicated guardians of nature — past and present — whose efforts are critical to the survival of our planet’s ecosystems.
The One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health join the world to “stand with the park rangers of the world in their fight to protect wildlife”
On July 31st, World Ranger Day honors those who protect our planet’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Dr. Jean Felix Kinani Sangwa is the Founder and Executive Director of the One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health. Since 2004, he has been training wildlife veterinarians including mountain gorilla doctors, park trackers and caregivers, and young conservationists in Rwanda’s Volcanoes, Akagera, and Nyungwe National Parks, as well as rangers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
My training focus on Wildlife Medicine through the One Health approach, which emphasizes the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment. Thanks to this training, trackers and rangers are able to actively participate in wildlife health monitoring and communicate effectively with veterinarians and park managers. By adding knowledge to their field skills, these trackers become even better equipped to protect all living species in their natural habitats. And support Dr Jean Felix work on mountain gorilla
With my extensive expertise in treating mountain gorillas, I trains wildlife veterinarians to support his efforts in caring for sick or injured mountain gorillas, captive gorillas, and other great apes in and around the Virunga Massif. His work also extends to the treatment of a wide range of wildlife species — including buffalos, lions, giraffes, hyenas, antelopes, jackals, porcupines, and more — always carried out in close collaboration with dedicated park trackers and caregivers. https://gorillahealth.org/mountain-gorilla-veterinarians-expertise/.
I recognized how easy is working on wildlife animals with the great support of experimented trackers from the regions.
The success of each field intervention on mountain gorilla depends on several factors, including the severity of the injury, the behavior of the gorilla and its group, and the availability of proper field equipment. However, what many people often overlook is the vital role of the trackers and rangers I’ve trained over the years — they not only help protect the wildlife, but also ensure the safety of veterinarians like myself during field operations.’’
“The following short story on our next blog, related by Dr Kinani highlights the critical role that rangers and trackers play — not only in protecting wildlife but also in safeguarding Volcanoes National Park as a whole. Their dedication often goes beyond their regular duties, and it underscores the urgent need for continued support in building their capacity through ongoing training and professional development.”
By Dr Jean Felix Kinani Sangwa
One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health
For more information or if you would like to make a donation, we greatly appreciate it.
You can contact our organization via by email: info@gorillahealth.org/ ohac2004@gmail.com
www.gorillahealth.org – Tel: 0788640986
