I’m sharing the face of a ranger—the very reason rhino still exist on this planet.

The role of a ranger used to be about 80% conservation, 20% anti poaching. Now, many say the roles are reversed. But it is far more than that, according to a Regional Ranger in Kruger National Park;

“If that were the case there would be no park left. So we are still doing 80% conservation, plus that 20% anti-poaching, plus now we have 60% more work in anti-poaching. The rangers are working at 160%, 24/7. Monday through Sunday, on public holiday, at 2:00 in the morning, everything must be done. The guys are operating at an unsustainable rate—they’re gonna burn out.”

We are resting the fate of an entire species on a handful of dedicated rangers, without giving thought to the weight of that responsibility. The general rhino-adoring public knows only a fraction of the challenges these rangers face, and burnout is a massive one.

I spent time in KNP with a Sergeant who’s been a ranger long before rhino poaching took a turn towards crisis. His days were spent removing snares and counting species. He carried a tool box, not a weapon.

Now, he’s faced with impossible situations—a split-second in the pitch black on an armed contact against 3 poachers, having to decide if he should shoot. He never for one minute thought he’d have to kill people.

In my research, I’ve come to understand that the general public doesn’t realize or have exposure to the psychological toll this work has. Rangers consistently deal with the negative—and that pressure day after day can destroy them. Often times in the mainstream media narrative we see the us of “war on poaching” language, which dangerously leads to a “war against poachers” mentality. We vilify local individuals without recognizing a painful truth—that poacher has a family. That dead poacher’s son is a little boy doesn’t know what his dad died for. The mental weight of this reality on rangers is overwhelming.

Coupling this with the rest of the challenges faced; lack of trust due to syndicate tactics, threats and coercion, a corrupt system allowing poachers free on bail to continue poaching before being sentenced for their first offense. Ranger morale is at an all-time low.

Rangers are the superheroes in this story—they are sacrificing so much to protect global heritage. It’s my hope that this artwork and these stores with inspire you to understand the role of rangers, and help shoulder a bit of the weight of responsibility weighing down on them.

A percentage of proceeds from your purchase of this painting will go directly to supporting Kruger National Park rangers on the ground in South Africa.