Prince William ‘Guardians’ Docuseries on Rangers on BBC Earth Digital

Prince William is launching Guardians, a six-part docuseries on rangers and the important work they do to protect nature as “unsung heroes,” on BBC Earth digital platforms on Friday.

The brainchild of the royal who has also voiced the trailer for the show and the introductions to individual episodes is available on the BBC Earth YouTube channel and its social channels, all part of BBC Studios Digital Brands, a division of the BBC Studios commercial arm of the U.K. public broadcaster.

The first episode of the series, from Prince William and his Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife program and co-produced with studio Zandland, is available on Friday, with new episodes being released weekly. The show “seeks to redefine our understanding of rangers and the protectors of nature, driving recognition and pride in the vital yet unseen work they do to protect our planet,” BBC Studios said.

“As a digital-first series, each 6–10-minute episode offers exclusive access and first-hand accounts of the lives of rangers and nature protectors as they urgently work to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems,” according to a synopsis. “We encounter incredible individuals who make huge sacrifices to safeguard the planet’s most threatened environments. From the snowy mountains of the Himalayas to the remote rainforests of Brazil, the series is filmed in some of the most breathtaking yet challenging locations that the Guardians call home, with each episode highlighting the pivotal role of these inspirational individuals.”

Prince William highlighted that he has 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.” He added: “The reality is that protecting our natural world has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. We need to understand and recognize nature’s guardians and the critical work they do.”

The royal also emphasized: “The rangers we meet in this series are an inspiration to us all. Every day, they take huge risks as nature’s front line of defense, standing between poachers and endangered species, supporting sustainable human-animal coexistence and fighting habitat loss. 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.”

BBC Studios Digital Brands said BBC Earth YouTube and its social channels reach a global audience of more than 13 million subscribers. “As one of the world’s leading destinations for premium factual content, the digital channel provides an ideal platform to showcase Guardians and connect viewers with powerful, real-world stories,” it said.

Highlighted Jasmine Dawson, senior vp, digital at BBC Studios: “This series reflects BBC Studios Digital Brands’ commitment to making vital, global stories accessible to everyone, and it aligns with our mission to tell meaningful, purpose-driven stories that spark conversation.”

Here is a closer look at what to expect in the six episodes of Guardians.

Central African Republic and the Dzangha-Sangha protected area: The episode follows a reformed poacher who now dedicates his life to protecting the wildlife he once hunted.

The Himalayas, India, high in the Spiti Valley: How “rangers are working to bring co-existence between the snow leopards, known as ‘Ghosts of the Himalayas,’ and local communities,” is at the heart of this episode.

Mexico’s Sea of Cortez: Featuring what was once called “the world’s aquarium,” this episode tells the story of a reformed illegal fisherman now working to protect the threatened ecosystem.

Kruger National Park in South Africa: “Teams work round the clock to protect, rescue and rehabilitate critically endangered rhinos, which face daily poaching threats.”

Sri Lanka: Veterinary experts work tirelessly here to rehabilitate elephants, leopards and other wildlife, while balancing patrolling duties and mitigating human-elephant conflicts.

Caru Indigenous Land in Brazil: This episode puts a spotlight on “the community-led fight to protect their homes whilst combating illegal wildlife crimes happening on their doorstep.”