WATCH: Prince William’s BBC docu-series episode on Sri Lanka’s wildlife rangers

The latest episode of Guardians, the acclaimed wildlife docuseries spearheaded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife programme, has been released — this time spotlighting the brave efforts of Sri Lanka’s wildlife rangers in their fight to save the island’s endangered elephants.

Launched in May, Guardians aims to reframe how the world sees rangers, championing the critical but often under-recognised role they play in protecting wildlife and ecosystems, according to the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. 

This week’s episode centres on the work of Chinthaka Pathirana, a veteran veterinary expert with the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) in Randenigala, who has spent over 20 years bravely rescuing and monitoring elephants, mitigating conflict, and preserving Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.

Sri Lanka holds the highest density of wild elephants per square mile in the world, with an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 Asian elephants. 

For generations, people and elephants lived in relative harmony. However, habitat encroachment, deforestation, and expanding agriculture have dramatically shifted that balance. 

In 2023 alone, 176 people and 470 elephants lost their lives due to rising human-elephant conflict — one of the highest rates in the world.

In this moving and visually rich episode, viewers witness the emotional and technical challenges faced by Chinthaka and his team as they work tirelessly to reduce harm to both humans and animals. 

A key focus is the use of GPS collaring to track elephant movements — critical to predicting and preventing conflict. In one gripping scene, the team risks their lives to fit a collar on a wild elephant, delicately balancing safety with conservation goals, the statement said.

“From a young age, we had a connection with the forest,” says Chinthaka in the film. “Elephant - human conflicts were not as intense as they are now. Our main objective is to minimise the impact on people and reduce the harm to animals. Looking forward, we hope to increase forest coverage and ensure that wild animals have adequate habitats. So, the role of the ranger is vital.”

Elephants play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance as “ecosystem engineers” — clearing forest paths, creating open spaces, and dispersing seeds that encourage plant diversity. Without them, entire ecosystems could collapse.

Prince William, who introduces each episode and also narrated the series trailer, reflected on the importance of highlighting these unsung conservation heroes:

“I’ve had the privilege of meeting a number of rangers throughout my life and have seen firsthand the vital work they do. Yet their stories are often overlooked or misunderstood. The reality is that protecting our natural world has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. We need to understand and recognise Nature’s Guardians, and the critical work they do.”

“The rangers we meet in this series are an inspiration to us all. Every day, they take huge risks as nature’s frontline of defence, standing between poachers and endangered species, supporting sustainable human-animal coexistence and fighting habitat loss,” he said.

“As they work to protect our oceans, our forests, our plains, our mountains and biodiversity, they are also educating, community building and furthering science. These are the unsung heroes — the true Guardians of the natural world, defending nature and the future of the planet for all of us,” he added.

The series, co-produced by The Royal Foundation and award-winning studio Zandland, features ranger communities from around the globe — each confronting unique environmental and cultural challenges. Alongside Sri Lanka, upcoming episodes will showcase:

• Central African Republic and the breathtaking Dzangha-Sangha protected area, following a reformed poacher who now dedicates his life to protecting the wildlife he once hunted. 
• The Himalayas, India where high in the Spiti Valley rangers are working to bring co-existence between the snow leopards known as ‘Ghosts of the Himalayas’, and local communities. 
• Mexico’s Sea of Cortez once called ‘the world’s aquarium’ - and the story of a reformed illegal fisherman now working to protect this threatened ecosystem. 
• Kruger National Park in South Africa where teams work round the clock to protect, rescue and rehabilitate critically endangered rhinos which face daily poaching threats. 
• Caru Indigenous Land, Brazil and the community-led fight to preserve their heritage and protect ancestral lands from environmental destruction. 

Benjamin Zand, Series Director and Executive Producer, spoke about his admiration for the Sri Lankan team:

“Sri Lanka is a country that has always captivated me, ever since I first visited in 2018 — stunningly beautiful, but facing a complex challenge when it comes to coexistence between people and wildlife. Chinthaka and his team are doing one of the toughest jobs out there: protecting one of the world’s most iconic animals while navigating real tensions with local communities. His warmth, commitment and belief in coexistence deserve to be championed.”

Episodes of Guardians are available on BBC Earth’s YouTube and social media channels, with new episodes released weekly. Watch the latest episode above….