Wildlife Ranger

Wildlife Ranger is an excerpt from the film Wildlife Ranger (19 mins), produced in 1979.

Wildlife Ranger: Set in the beautiful but isolated Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, Wildlife Ranger traces the duties and lifestyle of a national park ranger, including protection of and research into the diverse range of flora and fauna in the area. The program follows two rangers plying the boat along the waterways in the wet season to check out a remote rookery. This allows the viewer a close inspection of this unique environment, both at ground level and through breathtaking aerial photography. The northern monsoonal forests, grasslands and wildlife are shown in all their beauty, colour and diversity. The program also touches on the problems of remoteness from major towns, illustrated with the arrival of the fortnightly mail plane from Darwin.
Wildlife Ranger was produced by Film Australia.

This digital resource can be used to achieve the following outcomes:
P.1 A student demonstrates understanding of the relationships between composer, responder, text and context.
P.4 A student identifies and describes language forms and features and structures of particular texts that shape meaning and influence responses.
P.6 A student engages with a wide range of texts to develop a considered and informed personal response.
P.7 A student selects appropriate language forms and features, and structures of texts to explore and express ideas and values.
P.10 A student analyses and synthesises information and ideas from a range of texts for a variety of purposes, audiences and contexts.

Much of Australia’s far north is tropical wilderness that falls within various National Parks. The Cobourg Peninsula is situated on the northwest corner of Arnhem Land and juts out into the Arafura Sea. The peninsula is part of the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park and is managed jointly by the traditional Aboriginal land owners and the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. Governments employ wildlife rangers to patrol remote areas and enforce environmental laws, for example; the poaching of crocodiles. Much of their work is prevention as well as enforcement. The wildlife ranger has a vast area to patrol. He has to love living and working in a remote wilderness area where food may be dropped off by plane and many nights are spent camping outdoors. He needs many skills for this kind of work including sharp observation of nature. Pristine wilderness National Parks are a highly valued resource and in need of protection.

1. 1. List five jobs the ranger has to do.
   2. Explain why his wife doesn’t worry about him.
   3. Write a 50-word description of your impression the ranger and his work.
2. 1. Discuss and list the personal qualities and physical skills the ranger displays.
   2. Give reasons why the ranger carries out this work What are the costs and benefits to him?
   3. List the costs and benefits of our society in doing this work. Do you think that it isnecessary investment? Give reasons.
   4. The video clip shows a male ranger. Do you think females could do the job of ranger? Give reasons.
   5. Discuss and define the term ‘hero’. Would you consider the ranger to be a hero?
3. Construct an A4 page advertisement for the job of Wildlife Ranger. Include information under the following headings:
   1. job description
   2. personal qualities needed
   3. physical skills required
   4. what to expect
   5. at least 250 words of text

Literacy Activity: Focus= Viewing / Analysing

1. What is the purpose of:
   1. the map overlaying the aerial shot at the beginning of the clip?
   2. the wide shots of vast landscapes? (2 marks)
2. What does the ranger’s job entail? (1 mark)
3. How is the majority of patrol work done? (1 mark)
4. Why do we hear his wife’s voice as part of the commentary even though she is not seen in the clip? (1 mark)