Prince William's docuseries shines global spotlight on Lankan rangers saving endangered elephants

Today, Prince William and The Royal Foundation's United for Wildlife programme have released the newest episode of its groundbreaking docuseries, Guardians, highlighting the individuals at the forefront of wildlife protection and conservation.

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This week's episode focuses on an incredible team of rangers in Sri Lanka working to minimise threats of human-elephant conflict, fostering a more peaceful coexistence between wildlife and the communities living to help save this much-loved species from extinction.

Guardians, which launched in May, seeks to change the narrative around rangers, driving recognition and pride in the vital yet often misunderstood work they do to protect our planet. In this moving episode, we meet ranger Chinthaka Pathirana, who, for over 20 years, has been a veterinary expert within the Department of Wildlife Conservation's (DWC) Veterinary Clinic in Randenigala. Renowned for his leadership and integrity, viewers learn of the work of Chinthaka and his team as they bravely risk their lives to rescue and monitor elephants, alongside balancing patrolling duties and mitigating conflict.

Sri Lanka is home to the highest density of wild elephants per square mile, with a species population of between 5,000 and 6,000. For decades, humans and elephants have peacefully co-existed, but habitat encroachment, deforestation and agricultural expansion have made this enduring relationship more fragile.