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RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Prince William's new docuseries spotlights 'one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet'
By Olivia Kemp and Max Foster , CNN Prince William. Photo: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / POOL / AFP Wildlife rangers are being killed at a rate of nearly two a week, and it's a toll Prince William has said the world can no longer ignore. This is the reality laid bare in "Guardians," a new six-part docuseries from the Prince of Wales which offers a rare insight into the dangerous work of rangers operating on the front lines of conservation across the globe. A champion of the environment for over a decade, William introduces each episode of the series, which aims to capture both the beauty of the natural world, and the brutality of the protectors' fight to defend it. "I've been dying to do something around this sort of space for a while," William said after making an unexpected appearance at a screening in London on Tuesday. "This one is particularly special to me, because I've got lots of friends and people I've met over the years on my trips and going abroad who are living this life on a daily basis." Rangers make huge sacrifices and take incredible risks as nature's front line by standing between poachers and numerous endangered species. They endure similar ordeals to soldiers in combat, routinely facing death, injury, or torture from poachers, and the animals they protect can kill them too. William, 42, who founded United for Wildlife through his Royal Foundation in 2013 to combat illegal wildlife trade, said the series was shaped by firsthand accounts from rangers he's met and the "vital yet unseen" work they do to protect the planet. They're "unsung heroes," William told the audience. "I like to see the ranger as the glue between the human world we live in and the natural world." Chris Galliers, chair of the International Ranger Federation, echoed William, describing rangers as playing an "indispensable role in securing and maintaining the health of our planet." "Although often under resourced and supported, their tireless work secures our natural and cultural heritage and the stability of global economies, proving that environmental protection is deeply interconnected with human survival," he said. The series follows stories from rangers working in the Central African Republic, the Indian Himalayas, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, South Africa's Kruger National Park, Sri Lanka, and the Caru Indigenous land in Brazil. Four spotted hyenas run and chase after a lion, Panthera leo, through dry yellow grass in Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa. Photo: Londolozi Images / Mint Images via AFP William has spent years advocating for rangers and conservation teams. He has witnessed the risks firsthand, and has met those who patrol some of the world's most volatile environments, where many have lost their lives while safeguarding nature. "This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet," William said. "And really it shouldn't be. Protecting the natural world, it shouldn't be that dangerous." "At some point," he added, "we have to say enough's enough." William also reflected on the power of documentary storytelling, citing David Attenborough as a "big inspiration" during his childhood. The renowned veteran broadcaster's ability to bring "wonderful parts of the world" into people's homes is something "Guardians" also strives for, the heir to the British throne said. "Any future we want from the natural world, has to come from the ranger community being valued, respected, seen," William continued. "We value them, we care for them, and we hope that momentum builds, and that people support them." The series launches just weeks after William paid tribute to two rangers who were killed and another who was severely injured in an attack in Mozambique, which he described as "yet another brutal reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those protecting our natural world." In November, William announced a new life insurance initiative for rangers across Africa. The five-year financial package, funded in part by his foundation, will benefit 10,000 rangers, giving them access to health and life insurance cover, as well as opportunities for training and development. The digital series, launched by United for Wildlife and co-produced with award-winning studio ZANDLAND, will premiere globally on BBC Earth's YouTube and social channels on Friday with episodes released weekly. -CNN
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Prince William series to champion ‘dangerous' work of wildlife rangers
Wildlife rangers perform 'one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet', the Prince of Wales has said at the launch of a docuseries highlighting these 'unseen, unheard and undervalued' heroes of the natural world. William, who presents Guardians, a six-part series launching on Friday, said championing the protectors of the natural world was particularly special as he had met many of them on his travels. They often told him how much more dangerous the job had become as a result of civil wars, illegal fishing or poaching, he said. 'At some point, we do have to say 'enough is enough' and highlight the bravery of these men and women on a daily basis.' The series, which was William's idea, was launched by the Royal Foundation's United for Wildlife, and through immersive field footage focuses on six areas – Central African Republic, the Himalayas, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, Kruger national park in South Africa, as well as Sri Lanka and Caru Indigenous Land in Brazil. Each six- to 10-minute episode highlights a different story, with the first featuring Modiki Claver, who now protects the wildlife he once poached in Dzanga-Sangha, Central African Republic. New episodes will launch each Friday on BBC Earth's YouTube and social media channels. About 1,400 rangers had died as a result of their job over the past 10 years, William said, but so many cases were forgotten and unreported. William said: 'Every day, they take huge risks as nature's frontline of defence, standing between poachers and endangered species, supporting sustainable human-animal coexistence and fighting habitat loss.' The prince said the role of rangers was not just about carrying guns in the bush, which people often heard about. Those working in the Himalayas, for example, were at risk from the dangerous terrain. Globally, rangers' work encompassed community initiatives, education, teaching and scientific research. He said a further 1.5 million rangers were needed to meet global environmental biodiversity targets by 2030 – but this was a challenge. 'Because why would anyone get involved when it's not properly funded, they are not valued, no one cares?' the prince said at a launch panel discussion chaired by the wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion 'It's got to change. I'm hoping [this series] shines a really big spotlight on the determination, the resilience, the enthusiasm that people have to look after the natural world.' Last year, United for Wildlife committed to a five-year financial package providing 10,000 African rangers with affordable insurance cover. William said rangers were 'the glue' between humans and the natural world. 'Any future we want for the natural world has to come from the ranger community being valued and especially seen.'
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Prince William launches documentary series on wildlife rangers' dangerous work
LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) - A new documentary series hailing the work of wildlife rangers and featuring Britain's Prince William who has made their efforts one of his main campaigning causes will be broadcast on Friday. The six-part series 'Guardians', which premieres on BBC Earth's YouTube and social media channels, was the British heir-to-the-throne's brainchild and aims to show the perilous work rangers undertake to protect the planet's most threatened environments, his organisation which headed up the project said. "The reality is that protecting our natural world has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. We need to understand and recognise nature's Guardians, and the critical work they do," William said. "Every day, they take huge risks as nature's frontline of defence, standing between poachers and endangered species, supporting sustainable human-animal coexistence and fighting habitat loss." The series was developed by United for Wildlife, which was founded by William and his charitable foundation, and last year committed to a five-year financial package to provide 10,000 rangers across Africa access to affordable insurance cover under its 'Nature Protectors' initiative. William has frequently spoken out about the illegal wildlife trade which United for Wildlife says is thought to be worth up to $20 billion annually and is linked to violent crime, corruption and trafficking. In 2022, the prince paid tribute to Anton Mzimba, a ranger who was shot dead at a nature reserve in South Africa.
CNN
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Prince William's new docuseries spotlights ‘one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet'
Wildlife rangers are being killed at a rate of nearly two a week, and it's a toll Prince William has said the world can no longer ignore. This is the reality laid bare in 'Guardians,' a new six-part docuseries from the Prince of Wales which offers a rare insight into the dangerous work of rangers operating on the front lines of conservation across the globe. A champion of the environment for over a decade, William introduces each episode of the series, which aims to capture both the beauty of the natural world, and the brutality of the protectors' fight to defend it. 'I've been dying to do something around this sort of space for a while,' William said after making an unexpected appearance at a screening in London on Tuesday. 'This one is particularly special to me, because I've got lots of friends and people I've met over the years on my trips and going abroad who are living this life on a daily basis.' Rangers make huge sacrifices and take incredible risks as nature's front line by standing between poachers and numerous endangered species. They endure similar ordeals to soldiers in combat, routinely facing death, injury, or torture from poachers, and the animals they protect can kill them too. William, 42, who founded United for Wildlife through his Royal Foundation in 2013 to combat illegal wildlife trade, said the series was shaped by firsthand accounts from rangers he's met and the 'vital yet unseen' work they do to protect the planet. They're 'unsung heroes,' William told the audience. 'I like to see the ranger as the glue between the human world we live in and the natural world.' Chris Galliers, chair of the International Ranger Federation, echoed William, describing rangers as playing an 'indispensable role in securing and maintaining the health of our planet.' 'Although often under resourced and supported, their tireless work secures our natural and cultural heritage and the stability of global economies, proving that environmental protection is deeply interconnected with human survival,' he said. The series follows stories from rangers working in the Central African Republic, the Indian Himalayas, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, South Africa's Kruger National Park, Sri Lanka, and the Caru Indigenous land in Brazil. William has spent years advocating for rangers and conservation teams. He has witnessed the risks firsthand, and has met those who patrol some of the world's most volatile environments, where many have lost their lives while safeguarding nature. 'This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet,' William said. 'And really it shouldn't be. Protecting the natural world, it shouldn't be that dangerous.' 'At some point,' he added, 'we have to say enough's enough.' William also reflected on the power of documentary storytelling, citing David Attenborough as a 'big inspiration' during his childhood. The renowned veteran broadcaster's ability to bring 'wonderful parts of the world' into people's homes is something 'Guardians' also strives for, the heir to the British throne said. 'Any future we want from the natural world, has to come from the ranger community being valued, respected, seen,' William continued. 'We value them, we care for them, and we hope that momentum builds, and that people support them.' The series launches just weeks after William paid tribute to two rangers who were killed and another who was severely injured in an attack in Mozambique, which he described as 'yet another brutal reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those protecting our natural world.' In November, William announced a new life insurance initiative for rangers across Africa. The five-year financial package, funded in part by his foundation, will benefit 10,000 rangers, giving them access to health and life insurance cover, as well as opportunities for training and development. The digital series, launched by United for Wildlife and co-produced with award-winning studio ZANDLAND, will premiere globally on BBC Earth's YouTube and social channels on Friday with episodes released weekly.
CNN
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Prince William's new docuseries spotlights ‘one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet'
Wildlife rangers are being killed at a rate of nearly two a week, and it's a toll Prince William has said the world can no longer ignore. This is the reality laid bare in 'Guardians,' a new six-part docuseries from the Prince of Wales which offers a rare insight into the dangerous work of rangers operating on the front lines of conservation across the globe. A champion of the environment for over a decade, William introduces each episode of the series, which aims to capture both the beauty of the natural world, and the brutality of the protectors' fight to defend it. 'I've been dying to do something around this sort of space for a while,' William said after making an unexpected appearance at a screening in London on Tuesday. 'This one is particularly special to me, because I've got lots of friends and people I've met over the years on my trips and going abroad who are living this life on a daily basis.' Rangers make huge sacrifices and take incredible risks as nature's front line by standing between poachers and numerous endangered species. They endure similar ordeals to soldiers in combat, routinely facing death, injury, or torture from poachers, and the animals they protect can kill them too. William, 42, who founded United for Wildlife through his Royal Foundation in 2013 to combat illegal wildlife trade, said the series was shaped by firsthand accounts from rangers he's met and the 'vital yet unseen' work they do to protect the planet. They're 'unsung heroes,' William told the audience. 'I like to see the ranger as the glue between the human world we live in and the natural world.' Chris Galliers, chair of the International Ranger Federation, echoed William, describing rangers as playing an 'indispensable role in securing and maintaining the health of our planet.' 'Although often under resourced and supported, their tireless work secures our natural and cultural heritage and the stability of global economies, proving that environmental protection is deeply interconnected with human survival,' he said. The series follows stories from rangers working in the Central African Republic, the Indian Himalayas, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, South Africa's Kruger National Park, Sri Lanka, and the Caru Indigenous land in Brazil. William has spent years advocating for rangers and conservation teams. He has witnessed the risks firsthand, and has met those who patrol some of the world's most volatile environments, where many have lost their lives while safeguarding nature. 'This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet,' William said. 'And really it shouldn't be. Protecting the natural world, it shouldn't be that dangerous.' 'At some point,' he added, 'we have to say enough's enough.' William also reflected on the power of documentary storytelling, citing David Attenborough as a 'big inspiration' during his childhood. The renowned veteran broadcaster's ability to bring 'wonderful parts of the world' into people's homes is something 'Guardians' also strives for, the heir to the British throne said. 'Any future we want from the natural world, has to come from the ranger community being valued, respected, seen,' William continued. 'We value them, we care for them, and we hope that momentum builds, and that people support them.' The series launches just weeks after William paid tribute to two rangers who were killed and another who was severely injured in an attack in Mozambique, which he described as 'yet another brutal reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those protecting our natural world.' In November, William announced a new life insurance initiative for rangers across Africa. The five-year financial package, funded in part by his foundation, will benefit 10,000 rangers, giving them access to health and life insurance cover, as well as opportunities for training and development. The digital series, launched by United for Wildlife and co-produced with award-winning studio ZANDLAND, will premiere globally on BBC Earth's YouTube and social channels on Friday with episodes released weekly.
