Prince William and United for Wildlife launch groundbreaking docuseries higlighting the work of rangers
23/05/2025
Rangers are on the frontline of the protection and conservation of the natural world. Yet, their role is often fundamentally misunderstood and overlooked. A new six-part series, launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife, seeks to redefine understanding of rangers and the vital yet unseen work they do to protect our planet.
‘Guardians’ immerses viewers in the unique worlds of the incredible individuals who make huge sacrifices to safeguard the planet’s most threatened environments. From the snowy mountains of the Himalayas to the remote rainforests of Brazil, the series is filmed in some of the most breathtaking yet challenging locations that the Guardians call home, with each episode highlighting the pivotal role of these inspirational individuals.
Through his decades of work in the nature conservation sector and his ongoing work with United for Wildlife, Prince William has spent a great deal of time understanding and championing the work of rangers. He has seen first-hand the critical work they undertake and the myriad threats they face on a daily basis, with many tragically losing their lives whilst defending nature. The series, which was the brainchild of Prince William and to which he has voiced the trailer and individual episode introductions, aims to showcase these unsung heroes and highlight how their work impacts us all.
Prince William said:
I’ve had the privilege of meeting a number of rangers throughout my life and have seen firsthand the vital work they do. Yet their stories are often overlooked or misunderstood. 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.
The rangers we meet in this series are an inspiration to us all. 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.
As they work to protect our oceans, our forests, our plains, our mountains and biodiversity, they are also educating, community building and furthering science. These are the unsung heroes — the true Guardians of the natural world, defending nature and the future of the planet for all of us.
The first episode, released today, follows the story of Modiki Claver (pictured below), a reformed poacher who now dedicates his life to protecting the wildlife he once hunted in the Dzanga-Sangha protected area in the Central African Republic. Dzanga-Sangha is renowned for being home to the highest concentration of forest elephants and lowland gorillas in Africa and has seen these endangered species come under increasing threat from traffickers over the past 30 years. Through Modiki’s eyes, we follow daily patrols; his decision to walk away from poaching; and the hard-won passion and understanding he has developed of wildlife and the community that depends on it.
Ranger Modiki Claver. Credit – The Royal Foundation / Zandland
Dr Tom Clements, Executive Director of Nature Conservation said:
“The role of a ranger stretches far beyond just protecting wildlife. They are educators, community supporters, researchers and scientists, from governments, organisations, local communities and Indigenous Peoples. They preserve cultural heritage, and they help safeguard and regulate the sustainable use of our planets most precious natural resources.
“Without the critical work of these guardians, there is no guarantee of the future of thousands of animal and plant species, let alone food security, clean water, or a functioning, stable economy for the human population.”
Guardians will be released on BBC Earth’s YouTube and social channels from Friday 23rd May, with a gripping new episode launching each week. The series was co-produced with award winning studio ZANDLAND and each episode offers exclusive access, interviews and dynamic storytelling from rangers across the world. The series follows the remarkable stories from:
- Central African Republic and the breathtaking Dzangha-Sangha protected area, following a reformed poacher who now dedicates his life to protecting the wildlife he once hunted.
- The Himalayas, India where high in the Spiti Valley rangers are working to bring co-existence between the snow leopards known as ‘Ghosts of the Himalayas’, and local communities.
- Mexico’s Sea of Cortez once called ‘the world’s aquarium’ – and the story of a reformed illegal fisherman now working to protect this threatened ecosystem.
- Kruger National Park in South Africa where teams work round the clock to protect, rescue and rehabilitate critically endangered rhinos which face daily poaching threats.
- Sri Lanka where veterinary experts work tirelessly to rehabilitate elephants, leopards, and other wildlife, while balancing patrolling duties and mitigating human-elephant conflicts.
- Caru Indigenous Land, Brazil and the community-led fight to preserve their heritage and protect ancestral lands from environmental destruction.
Last November, United for Wildlife’s Nature Protectors initiative committed a five-year financial package set to provide 10,000 rangers across Africa with access to appropriate, affordable in-service and medical evacuation insurance cover.
You can watch the first episode of ‘Guardians’ on BBC Earth’s YouTube channel.
Stay tuned for more episodes of Guardians, released every Friday until the 27th June.
