“I have only seen a rhino once. We were on patrol and saw Namunyak (one of the female rhinos) on a hillside. I remember it so well, and ever since that day, they have become my favorite animals.”

Constable Nkidaa Tonkoi (center) lights up when talking about rhinos. He has worked across all corners of the Greater Amboseli ecosystem, but he loves working in the rhino area the most because it’s the region he sees wildlife the most regularly.

Living alongside wild animals also has its challenges, however. Constable Lenku Turere (right) recalls when elephants walked right through their ranger base at night, and another time when they were drinking tea and a pride of lions walked into camp.

“Lions have slept there!” Gesturing to a spot a few meters from their camp’s kitchen. “We could hear them breathing!”

On the left is Constable Kioko Mulwa, one of our rangers with more advanced bush skills and knowledge. He has worked for Big Life for 16 years.  In that time, he has seen enormous changes to the ecosystem. The most notable for him is the increase in wildlife populations, particularly lions and elephants.

“When I first started as a ranger, we would see many cases of ivory poaching, animals killed for meat, and lions speared or poisoned. But now there are so many animals, it’s clear the positive effect that Big Life has had.”

Being a ranger is more than just a job. It’s a way of life.

Together, these three men have spent a total of 30 years as rangers.

They can only do it because of the generosity of supporters like you. By becoming a monthly donor, you create reliable funding rangers like these depend on and continue protecting Greater Amboseli for the generations to come.

📸: Joshua Clay