FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

107 forest rangers killed around the world last year

107 forest rangers killed around the world last year

THE International Ranger Federation (IRF) has released the updated report on the plight of forest rangers globally to mark World Ranger Day last Sunday. It said at least 107 rangers died in the line of duty last year, while many are still not covered by a

Thailand’s rangers face similar problems, with inadequate health and life insurance coverage. They have reportedly lost 106 rangers over the past decade.
The IRF said 42 per cent of rangers who died in the past year were killed by poachers, while 17 per cent where killed by wild animals. The worldwide death toll over the past decade is over 1,000.
The first ever global ranger insurance report surveying 40 countries has been released and found that 35 per cent of government rangers have no life insurance, despite the risks, Meanwhile, 20 per cent had no health insurance and 45 per cent lacked long-term disability cover.
“Being a ranger will always be risky, but it is shocking that so many are killed in the line of duty and shameful that so many of their families do not even receive basic compensation,” said Sean Willmore, the president of the IRF and director of the Thin Green Line Foundation. 
The report, commissioned by WWF and the Ranger Federation of Asia (RFA), highlights the lack of basic insurance cover across Asia and Africa, where almost 90 per cent of ranger deaths were recorded over the last year. 
In Thailand, rangers get a limited monthly salary – around Bt7,000 to Bt10,000, which is lower than the minimum daily wage of Bt300 a day, plus social security, under which they can receive medical treatment at hospitals, but not life insurance or disability insurance.
The Department of National Parks, Widlife, and Plant Conservation, the state forest protection agency, has been trying to raise additional funds through two major social security funds set up in recent years to help its rangers. About 20,490 rangers guard around 73 million rai of pristine parkland in Thailand.
Some 223 casualties have been reported since 2004, including 106 fatalities. Those injured get around Bt10,000 to Bt20,000 to help cover medical costs, the department said. But in the eyes of many rangers, that’s not enough.
One experienced ranger in a western national park told The Nation rangers face many threats while on duty in the forests – from poachers, being attacked by wildlife, etc. 
The salary they get each month only just covers their expenses, and they have to pay for the additional costs of food and gear while going to camp in the forests.
Some also have to pay for their life insurance to ensure that their families won’t be left with nothing if they meet an unfortunate fate in the forests.
Others are only employed on contracts amid uncertainty in the profession, the ranger said, referring to subordinates he has to take care of.
“Recently, I have had to mortgage my used car in order to get the money to help cover food for my subordinates,” he said joking. “If possible, we just wish to see more assistance to make our work conditions better.”
 
RELATED
nationthailand