Rangers’ lives would be put at risk if Trump reverses elephant trophy ban

More than a thousand rangers have been killed in the line of duty over the last decade - and a corrupted legal market, operating for a few wealthy clients, exacerbates that risk

The announcement that the Trump administration is considering overturning the US ban on elephant trophy imports from Zambia and Zimbabwe is one that directly threatens the lives of African park rangers who are tasked with protecting elephants and their ecosystems.

Over the last 10 years, more than 1,000 rangers - who are employed by governments, NGOs and private companies - have lost their lives in the line of duty. Sadly, between July 2016 and July 2017, we know of 105 park rangers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.