Ep 4: Altin Gysman – Leadership, humility, and ranger training at the SAWC.

Ep 4: Altin Gysman – Leadership, humility, and ranger training at the SAWC.

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In this episode, I’m talking with Altin Gysman. Altin was born in the Eastern Cape, and worked his way up to Lieutenant Colonel in the South African National Defence Force. In 2018, he joined the Southern African Wildlife College as a Senior Course Leader, and now he is the Head of the Protected Area Integrity Unit/African Field Ranger Training Services.

In this chat, we talk about Altin’s military background and how that has influenced his current role in training rangers. We dive deep into the many jobs of a ranger, the vast set of skills taught at the Wildlife College, and the role of Project Braveheart. We also dig into what it takes to get through a ranger selection program, similar to the one featured in our film Rhino Man.

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Instagram: @wildlifecollege

Ep 3: Gerry McDonald – Conservation through aviation with Big Game Heli.

Ep 3: Gerry McDonald – Conservation through aviation with Big Game Heli.

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In this episode, I’m talking with Gerry McDonald, the helicopter pilot at Big Game Heli Services. Gerry grew up on a reserve where he and his brother Bruce were able to fly with game catchers who took wildlife from one reserve to another. That’s when they both became mad about flying and conservation.

Our chat ranges from Gerry’s early days in aviation, his mentors, and experiences flying at a young age, to a wide range of conservation efforts he is able to assist in from the air. He flies in vets to dart rhinos for dehornings, life-flights orphaned rhinos to sanctuaries, aids rangers on patrols, and delivers K9 units into the bush to track poachers. There may not be a more exciting job in conservation than the one Gerry holds.

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Instagram: @gerryheli

Ep 2: Anna Mussi – Rhino Revolution, dehornings, mounted APU, and rhino orphanage.

Ep 2: Anna Mussi – Rhino Revolution, dehornings, mounted APU, and rhino orphanage.

Subscribe, Rate, and Listen to The Rhino Man Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, YouTube, and Amazon today!

In this episode, I’m chatting with Anna Mussi, the manager of Rhino Revolution. Anna is originally from the UK, and has been in South Africa since 2010, where she originally worked with African Dream Horse Safaris. In 2014, she started work with ProVet Wildlife Services, and four years later she joined the Mounted Anti-Poaching Unit at Rhino Revolution.

We talk about Anna’s background in horse racing, her journey to South Africa, all of the wide ranging work she’s been involved with in conservation, and the efforts of Rhino Revolution including anti-poaching patrols, rhino dehornings, and rehabilitating orphaned rhinos. Anna’s story is an inspirational tale of what it looks like to follow ones heart.

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Website: rhinorevolution.org
Instagram: @rhinorevolutionorg
Facebook: @rhinorevolution