It’s World Ranger Day! Time to celebrate our DOC-green (and sometime orange) team doing their best to protect nature in Aotearoa. This is a window into conservation field work: selfie-style.
By Jayne Ramage, DOC
World Ranger Day is an opportunity to celebrate rangers who serve on the front lines of conservation worldwide.
It’s not always a glamorous role. Sometimes it’s the opposite. For example, collecting data about a kiwi population over three years and having to watch chick after chick get killed by stoats is grim.
(Don’t worry, aerial predator control turned that situation around, learn more in the Fiordland Kiwi Diaries)
π·: Senior Ranger Adeline Bosman doing rodent surveillance on Motuora Island with rodent detection dog Blaze
π·: Rangers Sarah-Lyn Wilson, Colette Wi and Brad Angus gearing up to receive gravel from a helicopter operation at Waitawheta
π·: Ranger Byron Radford undertaking wilding conifers control in the Nevis Valley, in the Remarkables Conservation Area
Internationally, World Ranger Day also commemorates rangers killed or injured in the line of duty, in addition to celebrating the work rangers do around the globe to protect natural treasures and cultural heritage.
Not all of our rangers are field-based, and lots of conservation mahi happens behind a desk–but those selfies aren’t as fun, and there’s no doubt that field folks have some of the best views and work stories around.
And because 2024 feels scripted by the writers room at Black Mirror, we’d like to add a disclaimer that all these pics are incredible because they’re real. AI was not used at all.
π·: Senior Ranger Adeline Bosman doing Argentine Ant surveillance on Tiritiri Matangi with detection dog Vito
π·: Ranger Adolfo Lopez clearing hazardous trees and turning them into firewood for locals at Golden Progress mine track in Central Otago
What does a ranger do?
This is a question we get asked a lot.
The short answer is: heaps!
π·: Rangers Rebecca Clarke & Dan Wood in a helicopter to Crosbies Hut for a hut servicing/maintenance mission (it’s a 6-8 hour trip one way)
π·: Ranger Aimee Stubbs at Remutupo Stream deploying new trapline in the Northern Ruahine Range
The long answer involves managing threats like predators, cutting tracks, managing biosecurity risks, monitoring and reporting on population health, restoration, recreation maintenance, running Visitor Centes, research and development β¦ the list goes on and on.
We have experts in many things: ecosystems, kΔkΔpΕ, kiwi, weeds, waterways, sharks, bittern, non-vascular plants, bird-banding, endangered orchids, visitor behaviour, surveying, safety, community engagement, backcountry tramping; you name it. The DOC Sounds of Science podcast is a good listen if youβd like to dive deeper into any of these fields.
π·1: Rangers Dan and Elijah doing their 4×4 Training in Mangatawhiri. π·2: Leon Meewezen in the snow taking a lunch break from possum control work near Dasler Biv in the Hopkins Valley. π·3: Ranger Aimee Stubbs trapping on Resolution Island looking back over to Anchor Island
π·: Rangers Kylie McDowell and Alannah Lett deploying acoustic recorders for matuku/bittern at a Lake Ohia in the Far North, Far North. Spot their Northern North Island mascot, Ranger Barbie!
Working in the field to help nature thrive is often very physically challenging, complex, with sky high stakes. But, on the other hand, our team have ‘office views’ like no where else, and often have seen things or done things that turn their friends and desk-based colleagues DOC-green with envy.
Often, our team are in the awkward position of having to explain that just because a member of the public has seen them do something–doesn’t mean everyone can.
π·1: Queenstown Visitor Centre ranger crew Sarah Moreton, Megan Eastes and Bex Orpin π·2: Rangers Vikki Baker and Penelope Gillette after vegetation biodiversity monitoring in North Mavora π·3: Ranger Leah Harvey with volunteer Jess (Volunteer) and Rangers Erin Drummond, Ricki Mitchel, Jake Mawhinney, John Wotherspoon and Yolanda Shergold
Our team get to do stuff like handle rare and endangered birds, rehabilitate penguins, and chase* kiwi through hills.
*If you can say chase when some of the hills are basically vertical.
Our team are trained pros, and have a lot of experience recognising when wildlife may be distressed and know when they need to be left alone or given space; or when a piece of terrain is unsafe or treacherous.
Please put your emoji hands together for all of our awesome rangers.
They deserve it.
π·1: Rangers Samantha Marsh, Karen Conner, Felicity Sime; front left: Jenna Sinclair and front right: Jessica Goodall scoping a track for visitor use near McMeekings Cottage on the Otago Peninsula. π·2: Ranger Trudi Ngawhare with Lisa Beach and Raiha Blane of RaukΕ«mara Pae Maunga about to do track maintenance in Waimahuru, Te Puia Springs
π·2: Gerry McNally, Tim Exton and Alfie Gillard walking to Pinnacles Hut, π·2: Sol Cranna-Smith looking at the Waitakere ranges, π·3: Gabriel Vilgalys updating marker poles at Lake TaupΕ river mouth
You can learn more about World Ranger Day on our website. For more about becoming a DOC Ranger, start with our careers page.
so good to see all these keen rangers on the job – well done!