Ep 36: Peter Eastwood – Tanglewood, Koru Camp, and empowering wildlife communities.

Ep 36: Peter Eastwood – Tanglewood, Koru Camp, and empowering wildlife communities.

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In this episode, I’m talking with Peter Eastwood. Peter is a retired entrepreneur from New Zealand working in conservation in Africa. He was the Founder of Imake a Difference Trust, which has raised funds for and supported many projects across Africa working to put an end to rhino poaching. He is also the founder of Tanglewood Foundation, which supports educational films and documentaries, including the film STROOP, and programs like school camps, the Albany Thicket Biodiversity Restoration Project, Coexistence Gardens, and Koru Camp; an immersive overnight camping experience for South African communities. He strives to live a principled life with purpose, and he is a plant based eater for the planet, animals, and better personal health.

In this conversation, we talk about Peter’s first trip to Africa and his path into conservation. We dive into his desire to make a difference, and the learning journey he went on along the way; from focusing on frontline and anti-poaching work, to shifting toward projects that engage the youth and local communities. We even spend time dissecting the process of bringing a documentary film to life. My favorite part of this conversation was our discussion around Koru Camp, and the impact overnighting in the bush for the first time has on young children and old grandmothers. Peter exudes passion and a boundless drive to make a difference.

LEARN MORE
Website: tanglewood.org.nz | korucamp.org
Instagram: @tanglewood_foundation | @korucamp
Facebook: @Tanglewood Foundation | @Koru Camp
Twitter: @distillerpete
LinkedIn: @Koru Camp | @Peter Eastwood

Ep 35: Grant Miller, MBE – ZSL, ranger support, trauma care, and a passion for conservation.

Ep 35: Grant Miller, MBE – ZSL, ranger support, trauma care, and a passion for conservation.

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In this episode, I’m talking with Grant Miller, MBE. Grant started his career in the military, and then moved to law enforcement where he worked in customs and border control in the UK predominantly in the area of narcotics trafficking. His last years of service were as the Head of the UK’s National CITES Enforcement Team and Chair of the Interpol wildlife crime working group. He now works as a Law Enforcement Specialist at the Zoological Society of London or ZSL.

In this conversation, we talk about Grant’s begrudging transition from law enforcement narcotics to a role in CITES enforcement, and why he eventually fell in love with it. We go deep into all of the wide ranging conservation and research projects that ZSL is involved in around the world. And we talk at length about the importance and challenges of rangers, spending a lot of time talking about trauma and mental health. So much passion, knowledge, and wisdom in this episode.

LEARN MORE
Website: zsl.org
Instagram: @officialzsl | @grantmiller69
Facebook: @officialzsl
Twitter: @officialzsl
LinkedIn: @Zoological Society of London (ZSL) | @Grant Miller MBE

Ep 34: Markus Hofmeyr – Rhino Recovery Fund, saving the rhinos, and epic translocations.

Ep 34: Markus Hofmeyr – Rhino Recovery Fund, saving the rhinos, and epic translocations.

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

In this episode, I’m talking with Markus Hofmeyr. Markus grew up in South Africa around wildlife. He started his career as a wildlife veterinarian, and at Madikwe Game Reserve he was responsible for the oversight and management of the largest wild mammal translocation to date, called “Operation Phoenix”. Markus was the General Manager of Veterinary Wildlife Services at SANParks, was the Chief Conservation Officer at Great Plains Conservation Foundation and Rhinos without Borders, and is now the Program Officer at Oak Foundation, and the Director of Rhino Recovery Fund.

In this conversation, we talk about the current state of rhino populations around the world and the poaching crisis. We dive into Markus’ early beginnings in conservation, and his in depth knowledge of wildlife translocation. We go deep into what it’s going to take to save the Sumatran rhinos, and he gives his thoughts and advice on working in conservation. If you love rhinos, this is the episode for you.

LEARN MORE
Website: rhinorecoveryfund.org
Instagram: @krugerwildvet | @rhinorecoveryfund | @oak_foundation
Facebook: @rhinorecoveryfund
Twitter: @rhinorecfund | @oakfnd
LinkedIn: @Oak Foundation