Resilience, Fire and the Power of the Human Spirit

Tusk
4 min readJul 30, 2024

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by Bear Grylls, Tusk Ambassador

Credit: Anna Heupel

A friend once asked me what qualities were needed for the UK Special Forces. It’s an interesting question, but at heart, an SAS soldier needs to be self-motivated and resilient; to be calm yet smile when things are grim; to be unflappable; to be able to react fast; and to have an ‘improvise, adapt, and overcome’ mentality.

What strikes me most is the echoing of these qualities in the frontline wildlife protectors I have had the privilege of knowing and working alongside. Africa’s rangers are the guardians of the continent’s natural and cultural heritage, protecting nature and wild places to maintain a healthy planet that benefits us all. These men and women often work in remote areas of wilderness where communication with the ‘outside world’ can be difficult, and rangers can often feel isolated and alone in the vital work they perform.

If I look back at a lifetime of adventures, I see one common thread that runs through every endeavour: the need for genuine teamwork in order to prevail. Great friendships are forged in fire, and with every expedition I have been part of, it is this solid comradeship that has been the determining factor in success or failure.

Credit: Mount Kenya Trust

There is an extraordinary power in real friendship in extremes, and there is no limit to what you can do together when you help each other, and when you’re honest and vulnerable with each other. When you have nothing left to give, a true friend is the one who will turn around and help you find that little bit extra inside to keep going, standing shoulder to shoulder. I have witnessed this same spirit building in the men and women forging the world’s biggest movement for wildlife rangers.

As we look to celebrate World Ranger Day tomorrow and the launch of the 2024 Wildlife Ranger Challenge (WRC), the camaraderie demonstrated by those within the ranger network is palpable. The campaign has provided an unparalleled opportunity for rangers across the continent to connect and support each other. The shared experience between the thousands of ranger participants stretches far beyond race day to form a mutual understanding of professional dedication and personal passion.

I see so often a set of common attributes in those who succeed against the odds. Those of skill, humility, endurance, and character. Arguably, the traits present in an effective ranger force, and definitely those demonstrated by the teams that rise to the top of the annual Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

Credit: Ben Stevens

And it is just that: a challenge.

The combination of searing temperatures, demanding terrain, and hefty pack weights makes this event one of the toughest of its kind. But the winners are those who know that when things get hard and others start to fall apart, that is the time to dig deep and give that little bit extra. Sometimes we have to go through genuine adversity to come out the other side better, stronger, and more empowered.

To every ranger out there, please know that we admire you more than you will ever know, and we recognise your incredible dedication and unwavering determination. You are true inspirations.

Tusk Ambassador Bear Grylls is one of the world’s most recognised faces of survival and outdoor adventure. He spent three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces as part of the 21 SAS Regiment, and soon after became one of the youngest climbers ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Here, he outlines how his mantra of courage, kindness and never giving up is mirrored in the actions of the biodiversity protectors of Tusk’s Wildlife Ranger Challenge network.

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge includes a series of mini challenges and culminates in Race Day on September 21, when 170 teams will compete in a 21km race in their respective African landscapes, carrying 22 kg of kit (10 kg for women). To find out more, visit wildliferangerchallenge.org.

This article has been adapted from Tusk Talk Magazine 2024.

Credit: Mount Kenya Trust

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Tusk
Tusk

Written by Tusk

Tusk Trust is a British non-profit organisation set up in 1990 to accelerate the impact of African-driven conservation.

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