With around 1,500 bulletproof vests distributed among provincial offices of the Department of Environment across the country, no park ranger will protect the wild without protective armor.
Rangers have often been victims of violence and assaults while on duty. According to Colonel Jamshid Mohabbat-Khani, head of DOE's Protection Unit, 120 park rangers have been killed and 150 have been injured by poachers and offenders over the past four decades.
"The loss would have been prevented in 70% of the cases if they had been provided with adequate protection," he said.
He pointed out that offenders and illegal hunters are often armed and tend to face park rangers rather than run away when caught, therefore, protection forces need to be prepared.
Besides the vests, 3,400 pairs of anti-knock knee and elbow protectors were delivered to provincial DOE offices late last week.
"Moreover, four sets of outfits and shoes, including formal uniforms and workwear, will be given to park rangers in a couple of months," the official said.
Mohabbat-Khani pledged that the Protection Unit's vehicles and motorcycles will be replaced with new ones and a number of quadcopters will be provided this year for more efficient protection in natural reserves. Installing CCTVs in DOE-protected zones is also on this year's agenda.
"Park rangers will also be equipped with micro cameras, enabling headquarters to control their activities and document probable incidents," he promised.
