Today, we are celebrating World Ranger Day! It is celebrated worldwide on July 31st to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and cultural heritage.
As you know, one of the most important parts of Save Giraffes Now’s mission is Anti-Poaching. SGN works directly with communities to establish, manage, and support anti-poaching ranger and scout teams across key giraffe landscapes, including 6 different regions in Kenya and 1 area in Niger.
Many of you may remember Mike from our previous newsletters regarding his struggles with kidney disease. Through a collaboration between Save Giraffes Now, Vital Impacts, and this incredible community of donors like you, we were able to reach the goal needed to support Mike’s dialysis and ongoing care
Photo by Ami Vitale
Photo International Ranger Federation
Mike is a conservation ranger specializing in caring for and rehabilitating giraffes at Ruko Conservancy on the shores of Lake Baringo in Kenya. He was also one of the most important figures in the extraordinary rescue and relocation of endangered Nubian giraffes threatened by rising floodwaters in 2020.
Photo by Ami Vitale
When the lake began to swallow their island home, Mike played a central role in the painstaking effort to save the last remaining herd. He worked for months alongside local communities and conservation partners to carefully guide and transport the giraffes across crocodile-filled waters on a specially built barge. At the height of this crisis, he slept on the flooded island for months at a time, living in constant danger alongside the giraffes, far from his wife and young children, to ensure their survival. Mike has dedicated his life to these animals, often spending up to 10 months a year in the field and only having brief periods at home with his family, quietly sacrificing safety, stability, and irreplaceable time with his loved ones to protect wildlife in crisis.
Thank you for supporting Mike and rangers like him who work tirelessly everyday on the frontlines of conservation to protect these gentle giants.
Save Giraffes Now has made great progress in our giraffe conservation efforts; however, there is much work left to do, and we need your help. Your financial support helps to ensure giraffe can live freely and safely in their native Africa for generations to come.
