FEATURED ORGANIZATIONS
Ep 6: Anton Mzimba – Life of a ranger at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
Subscribe, Rate, and Listen to The Rhino Man Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, YouTube, and Amazon today!
On the evening of July 26th, 2022, our dear friend Anton Mzimba was brutally gunned down at his home in front of his family, by what was presumed to have been hitmen from a rhino poaching syndicate. He always said he knew the risks. The risks of being a ranger. The risks of sharing his story. But that doesn’t change the fact that his loss is devastating. He could have done so much more. This podcast episode may be the last interview Anton gave. In it he gives us his life story, his hopes, and his dreams. May your legacy forever live on, my friend. 🦏🙏❤️
In this episode, I’m talking with my good friend, Anton Mzimba. Anton has been a field ranger in South Africa for over 24 years, and he is currently the Head of Security for the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. In 2016, he won Best Field Ranger at the Rhino Conservation Awards. Anton also serves as a technical advisor for the Global Conservation Corps.
In this conversation, we talk about how Anton became a ranger, his days of training rangers at the Southern African Wildlife College, the role of a ranger and how it has changed over the years, the emotional toll of facing armed poachers, and how to navigate family life with a job that takes you away from home for long periods of time. We also dig into potential solutions to poaching, which include working closely with local communities, and we get Anton’s thoughts on the coming release of Rhino Man.
FOLLOW
Website: timbavatiprivatenaturereserve.org
Instagram: @timbavati_pnr
Facebook: @timbavatiprivatenaturereserve
Ep 44: Urs Reif – European Ranger Federation and Black Forest National Park.
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 Urs Reif. Urs studied biology and nature conservation and is working as chief ranger for Black Forest national park in Germany. In addition Urs worked in conservancy reporting and in the federal ministry for nature conservation. As a volunteer he is seating the ranger working group for Europarc Germany and is president of the European Ranger Federation.
In this conversation, we talk about Urs’ path to becoming a ranger, the beauty of Black Forest national park, and his opinion on Black Forest cake. We dive into the importance of rangers locally and globally, the necessity and benefits of ranger associations, and the workings of the European Ranger Federation. This conversation was full of energy and confirmed, once again, my love of rangers, their stories, and the work they do.
LEARN MORE
Website: europeanrangers.org
Instagram: @european_ranger_federation | @reif.urs
Facebook: @EuropeanRangerFederation
LinkedIn: @European Ranger Federation
Ep 43: Nick Brandt – Photography highlighting human impact on the natural world.
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 Nick Brandt. Nick is a conservationist and photographer who uses his captivating art to champion environmental causes. Nick was born and raised in London, where he originally studied Painting and Film. He now lives in the southern Californian mountains. In 2010, Nick co-founded Big Life Foundation, a non-profit in Kenya and Tanzania that employs more than 300 local rangers protecting 1.6 million acres of the Amboseli/Kilimanjaro ecosystem. The themes in Nick’s photographic series relate to the destructive impact that humankind is having on both the natural world and now humans themselves too.
In this conversation, we talk about Nick’s confrontation with elephant poaching in East Africa, and how that sparked his journey from photographer to conservationist, leading to the creation of Big Life Foundation. We dive deep into his art series from the East African Trilogy to Inherit the Dust and This Empty World to The Day May Break. We go into his process and the logistics for these massive artistic undertakings. And we spend time digging into the environmental issues that currently plague our planet, along with stories of some of the resilient humans in his photographs.
LEARN MORE
Website: nickbrandt.com | biglife.org
Instagram: @nickbrandtphotography | @biglifeafrica
Facebook: @biglifefoundation
Twitter: @biglifeafrica
LinkedIn: @Big Life Foundation
Ep 42: Theresa Sowry – SAWC and educating the next generation of conservationists.
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 Theresa Sowry. Theresa is the CEO of the Southern African Wildlife College, which equips people with the necessary knowledge and applied skills to conserve and protect Africa’s natural resources and biodiversity in viable, inclusive and economically successful ways. Theresa holds a Master of Science Degree in Botany from the University of the Witswatersrand, South Africa. She gained conservation experience while employed by South African National Parks working on their rare antelope programme in the Kruger National Park. And she is a pilot, flying a Savannah S, Light Sport Aircraft.
In this conversation, we talk about Theresa’s family visits to Kruger National Park in her youth, and how those fostered her love of nature. We talk about her path to working at the Wildlife College, the beauty of the location and people, and the many programmes offered: from field ranger training, the K9 unit, and aerial support to community and youth development, and responsible Resource Management. We talk about the changes that took place because of the rhino poaching crisis, the complexities and nuances of conservation, and Theresa’s love of flying. Such a wonderful, wide-ranging conversation.
LEARN MORE
Instagram: @wildlifecollege
Facebook: @theresa.sowry | @southernafricanwildlifecollege
LinkedIn: @Theresa Sowry | @Southern African Wildlife College
Ep 41: Axel Tarifa – Rehabilitating orphaned rhinos and becoming a wildlife vet.
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 Axel Tarifa. Axel is featured in our coming film Rhino Man. He grew up in the Southeast of France and always knew he wanted to work with animals. He took a gap year in university, which lead to a long stint as a volunteer at the Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in South Africa. He is now deep into his studies at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences in the process of becoming a wildlife veterinarian.
In this conversation, we talk about Axels path that took him to South Africa and the amazing experiences he had volunteering at the rhino orphanage. We go deep into what it’s like to rehabilitate baby rhinos, the effects of trauma on rhinos and wildlife species, and the unique personalities of each animal. Axel also takes us through the traumatic attack by poachers on the rhino orphanage, the lessons he learned, and how part of his healing journey was deciding to become a wildlife vet. Axel is graciously vulnerable, and full of deep incites into the world of rhino emotions and behaviors.
LEARN MORE
Instagram: @axeltarifa | @rhinorphan
Facebook: @rhino.orphan
Twitter: @axeltarifa
LinkedIn: @Axel Tarifa
Ep 40: Reginah Smith – North West Parks Board, and female leadership in the ranger corps.
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 Reginah Smith. Reggie is a ranger corporal in Pilanesberg National Park in North West Province, South Africa. She’s an adjutant of the Pilanesberg Rhino Protection Unit, she’s a participating member of the Game Rangers Association of Africa, and she is studying law to become an advocate for rangers in the legal system.
In this conversation, we talk about Reggie’s unexpected path into becoming a ranger. We talk about her training at the Southern African Wildlife college by Ruben de Kock and Martin Mthembu, and the confidence and leadership skills they instilled in her. We go into the beauty of Pilanesberg National Park, the height of the rhino poaching crisis, the formation of the Rhino Protection Unit, and how she’s overcome the challenges of leading a ranger unit as a woman. She remembers Anton Mzimba, and we discuss the lessons loss. Reggie has a deep love for family, inspiring the youth, and advocating for her rangers.
LEARN MORE
Website: northwestparks.org.za/
Instagram: @pilanesberg_national_park
Facebook: @visitnwparks | @PilanesbergNationalPark
Twitter: @NWP_HOME | @PilanesbergNP
Ep 39: Sharon Haussmann – GKEPF and protecting wildlife in the Greater Kruger Area.
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 Sharon Haussmann. Sharon is the CEO of the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation or GKEPF, which was established to assist with protecting wildlife and combatting environmental crime across the region. Over the last four-plus years, Sharon has held multiple Chairperson positions at Balule Nature Reserve. She has strong roots in farming in the Lowveld, and has academic qualifications in engineering and conflict management.
In this conversation, we talk about Sharon’s early upbringing and her path into conservation. We dig into the history of the formation of Balule Nature Reserve. We go into her experience of the early days of the rhino poaching crisis and how it has evolved over time. We dive into the formation of GKEPF and the wide ranging work they are doing to coordinate partners and programs in an effort to protect wildlife. And we even spend time talking about the importance of rangers and our dear friend and fallen ranger, Anton Mzimba. She had some beautiful words to say about his life and memorial service. Throughout this episode, Sharon exudes passion, dedication, and love for the people and the work of conservation.
LEARN MORE
Website: gkepf.org
Instagram: @sharonhaussmann01 | @thegkepf
Facebook: @GKEPFoundation
Twitter: @gkepf
LinkedIn: @Sharon Haussmann | @GKEPF