Ep 56: Kurt Steiner – Conservation Law Enforcement and Creating the Ranger Rifle.

Ep 56: Kurt Steiner – Conservation Law Enforcement and Creating the Ranger Rifle.

Sponsored by Wildlife & Co. Wildlife & Co. is on a mission to protect Earth’s ecosystems and wildlife. Buy amazing apparel and support conservation. Visit wildlifeandco.com

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Our guest in this episode is Kurt Steiner. Kurt is a long-time conservation law enforcement innovator and the creator of the Ranger Rifle. Among his many roles over the years, he was the Head of Law Enforcement at African Parks Network from 2025-2017. While there he was responsible for the development and implementation of a law enforcement strategy for increasing from 600 to 1,100 counter poaching rangers, across multiple regions in 12 countries.

In this conversation, we dive deep into Kurt’s path into conservation law enforcement. We dig into what it means to be a ranger, aspects of ranger training, what he learned during his time in the Congo, and what rangers need to be effective and well-supported. Kurt takes us through the process of developing and testing the Ranger Rifle, and why there is such a need for this specialized firearm.

Kurt is full of wisdom and great stories. His passion for rangers shines through in everything he does.

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

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Instagram: @ranger.rifle
Website: ranger-rifle.com
LinkedIn: @Kurt Steiner

Julian Dorey – 232: John Jurko II & Orlat Ndlovu | Ranger Murdered During Documentary

Julian Dorey – 232: John Jurko II & Orlat Ndlovu | Ranger Murdered During Documentary

Check out the Julian Dorey Podcast episode 232.

John Jurko is a documentary filmmaker & journalist. Orlat Ndlovu is a South African Anti-Poaching Park Ranger at Timbavati Game Reserve in SA. John’s recent documentary, “Rhino Man” tells the story of these park rangers and their tragically-murdered leader, Anton Mzimba. Anton was hunted and killed by poaching cells furing the filming of the documentary

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Curiosity solved. Julian Dorey Podcast features diverse guests & topics including: Wild Stories, Current Events, Geopolitics, True Crime, Society & Culture, History, Tech, Investigative Journalism and much more. Hosted by Julian Dorey.

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Instagram: @juliandoreypodcast
YouTube: @JulianDorey
TikTok: @realjuliandorey

Pull The Thread: The Wild Life – Ep 4 Incorruptible

Pull The Thread: The Wild Life – Ep 4 Incorruptible

Check out Podcast Episode 4 of Pull The Thread: The Wild Life.

This episode is named Incorruptible in reference to the late Anton Mzimba, whose life and death are featured along with the RHINO MAN story. It includes interviews with Leitah Mkhabela. Orlat Ndlovu, Ruben de Kock, and John Jurko II. Check out the entire series on all of the podcast platforms.

This episode also goes into some of the complexities and historical wrongs that have made conservation efforts fraught with moral and ethical issues. However, they do not go into the many efforts to change these dynamics for the better within the Timbavati and the Greater Kruger Area through education, access, pathways to careers in conservation, and local community ownership. It’s not a topic that can easily be given a full picture within 10 mins of a podcast episode. We have worked closely with the team at the Timbavati and they are some of the most caring, passionate, and dedicated in the space, striving to make positive change.

This episode also makes it seem as though RHINO MAN was John Jurko’s idea, however it was originally a promise to the rangers to tell their stories made by Matt Lindenberg of GCC during his time at the Southern African Wildlife College. In 2015, rangers were the unsung heroes working behind the scenes of conservation. John worked closely with Matt and the rangers of the Timbavati and SAWC to honor this promise.

There is still work being done to bring justice to Anton’s killers. To help make our voice heard, please sign our petition by visiting justiceforanton.org

FROM THE PODCAST:
Some compare illegal wildlife trafficking to a war. On the front line are the poachers and the game rangers. Syndicates often rely on the corruptibility of these poorly-paid rangers to be information providers and protectors. Anton Mzimba, a guardian of rhinos and other big game in South Africa, refused to be one of them.

FOLLOW:
Luminary: @hearluminary
Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment: @dreamcrew
Novel: @novelpodcasts
Thread Studios: @threadstudiosuk
Runako Celina: @runakocelina
Focused Conservation: @focused.conservation

Colorado Environmental Film Festival 2024 Filmmaker Conversation with RHINO MAN.

Colorado Environmental Film Festival 2024 Filmmaker Conversation with RHINO MAN.

John Jurko II, the lead producer/director of RHINO MAN was interviewed as part of the film’s selection for CEFF 2024.

The festival hosted an amazing screening of the film on Friday, February 27th at 7:30pm to an audience of 75. Everyone stayed for a great Q&A with the team and had excellent questions on the topics of rangers and rhinos. We can’t thank the CEFF team enough for allowing us to be a part of their 2024 programming.

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Website: ceff.net

Ep 54: Fedrick Ndlovu – Life lessons from a ranger at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.

Ep 54: Fedrick Ndlovu – Life lessons from a ranger at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.

Sponsored by Wildlife & Co. Wildlife & Co. is on a mission to protect Earth’s ecosystems and wildlife. Buy amazing apparel and support conservation. Visit wildlifeandco.com

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Our guest today is my friend, Fedrick Ndlovu. Fedrick is a long-time ranger at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.

In this episode, we dive into Fedrick’s path into becoming a ranger, and how it almost didn’t happen because of a government mixup. We talk about his early days on the reserve facing the new threat of rhino poaching, and his rise up through the ranger ranks. We cover the effects of COVID on the team in 2020, leadership advice, what it was like working with the RHINO MAN team, and the loss of Anton Mzimba.

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

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Instagram: @ndlovufedrick | @timbavati_pnr
Facebook: @Fedrick Ndlovu | @Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Twitter: @timbavati
LinkedIn: @Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

Ep 53: Don Scott – Tanda Tula, education, ownership, and hyper-local supply chains.

Ep 53: Don Scott – Tanda Tula, education, ownership, and hyper-local supply chains.

Sponsored by Wildlife & Co. Wildlife & Co. is on a mission to protect Earth’s ecosystems and wildlife. Buy amazing apparel and support conservation. Visit wildlifeandco.com

Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple Podcasts

Our guest in this episode is Don Scott. Don along with his wife, Nina, are owners and operators of Tanda Tula, a beautiful Safari Camp in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in South Africa.

In this conversation, we dive into Don’s early career in aerospace engineering, and how he and Nina found their way into conservation. We talk about the risks and challenges of owning and operating a business in the bush. We go into the positive impact they seek to have through education and literacy efforts, creating pathways for growth and ownership within their company, and developing the local wildlife economy to grow and connect with more locally owned businesses in the Kruger area. We also talk about the importance of rangers, and what you should look for in the companies and lodges you’re supporting when you’re traveling to wildlife areas.

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

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Instagram: @don.m.scott | @tanda.tula
Facebook: @TandaTula
Twitter: @TandaTula
TikTok: @tandatula
LinkedIn: @Don Scott | @Tanda Tula

Ep 52: Timothy Santel – Focused Conservation and Criminal Investigations with the USFWS.

Ep 52: Timothy Santel – Focused Conservation and Criminal Investigations with the USFWS.

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 Timothy Santel. Tim is currently the Senior Advisor on International Wildlife Trafficking programs for Focused Conservation, which is a nonprofit changing the game in the battle against wildlife crime through investigations, government support, and information sharing. Tim spent over 33 years working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and retired as a Special Agent in Charge of their Special Investigations Unit. Tim developed and oversaw a team of elite covert federal agents tasked with investigating transnational criminal organizations that were illegally trafficking wildlife. In recognition of his efforts, Tim received numerous awards throughout his career including the prestigious Guy Bradley Award, Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, and North American Wildlife Officer of the Year.

In this conversation, we go deep into the work being done at Focused Conservation, why what they are doing is important to the cause, and how you can support. We dive into Tim’s progression from growing up in a rural Midwestern town in the US, to becoming a law enforcement agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We go into many of his experiences on the job and investigations including Operation Crash, which resulted in nearly 50 prosecutions globally for trafficking in rhino horns and elephant ivory. Tim is generous with his stories and his wisdom.

LEARN MORE
Instagram: @focused.conservation
Facebook: @FocusedConservation
Twitter: @FocusedConserve
LinkedIn: @Timothy Santel | @Focused Conservation

Ep 51: Chris Galliers – The future of rangers and the International Ranger Federation.

Ep 51: Chris Galliers – The future of rangers and the International Ranger Federation.

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 Chris Galliers. Chris is the current President of the International Ranger Federation and we go deep on everything rangers, on this World Ranger Day. He is also the manager of Conservation Outcomes, which was created to provide support to land that is being developed and managed for biodiversity conservation outside of traditional state protected areas. Chris has been on the executive committee for the Game Rangers Association of Africa, and was the Senior Manager of Wildlife and Conservation Initiatives at WESSA.

In this conversation, we dive into Chris’s youth growing up on a dairy farm in rural KwaZulu-Natal and the curiosity that led him into the conservation field. We talk about the importance of rangers, the balance of conserving spaces while supporting growth, staying optimistic in work that can feel like a constant battle, and we go deep on the International Ranger Federation. Chris talks about the next World Ranger Congress, the Chitwan Declaration and the Universal Ranger Support Alliance, and the International Ranger Awards. Chris is deeply passionate about rangers, conservation, and his work. You won’t want to miss this wide ranging conversation.

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Instagram: @chrisgalliers | @int_ranger_fed
Facebook: @chris.galliers.5 | @InternationalRangerFederation
Twitter: @ursa4rangers
LinkedIn: @Chris Galliers | @Universal Ranger Support Alliance

Ep 50: John Jurko II – Directing RHINO MAN the movie and living the better story.

Ep 50: John Jurko II – Directing RHINO MAN the movie and living the better story.

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

In this episode, we turn the microphone on our host, John Jurko II. John is the lead director and producer who has overseen the completion of our documentary film, RHINO MAN, since 2018. After receiving a BA in Film Production and Philosophy at Bowling Green State University, he lived in Los Angeles, where he worked in the camera department of many indie films. He then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was drawn to RHINO MAN for its story and potential as a social impact project. He created and hosts The Rhino Man Podcast to further build awareness of the importance of rangers, the rhino poaching crisis, and community engagement. John has presented to audiences such as His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, government, international financial crime delegates, law enforcement, and conservation NGOs.

In this conversation, we dive into the ups and downs along John’s winding journey into filmmaking. We go deep into his philosophy on life, how he came to RHINO MAN, and the endless obstacles he had to overcome to complete the film. We also talk about the devastating loss of his good friend and ranger, Anton Mzimba.

Matt Lindenberg, the Executive Director of the Global Conservation Corps takes the reins and hosts an intimate conversation with John. This episode shows how we can all contribute to the greater cause in our own way.

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Instagram: @johnjurko
Facebook: @johnjurko
Twitter: @johnjurko
LinkedIn: @John Jurko II

Ep 49: Orlat Ndlovu – Head of Ranger Services at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.

Ep 49: Orlat Ndlovu – Head of Ranger Services at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.

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 my good friend, Orlat Ndlovu. Orlat is the Head of Ranger Services at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which borders the Kruger National Park in South Africa. He’s been a dedicated ranger for over 14 years, and he was a close friend and colleague of the late Anton Mzimba.

In this conversation, we talk about Orlat’s early love of birds and how that passion for nature led to a career as a field ranger. We dive into the challenges he faced during ranger selection and training, the day-to-day work of a ranger in the Timbavati, and the many dangers of the job. We spend time unpacking the rhino poaching crisis, and how it changed the nature of his work. We go deep into what makes a good ranger, the nature of corruption within the ranger corps and how his team works to eliminate it, and the importance of educating and inspiring the youth. We even have a heartfelt discussion about the loss of Anton Mzimba, and the difficult task Orlat had in stepping up and taking leadership of his team during such a devastating time. Orlat is full of sage advice and love for the work he does.

LEARN MORE
Website: timbavati.co.za
Instagram: @ort_027_| @timbavati_pnr
Facebook: @orlat.ndlovu | @timbavatiprivatenaturereserve
Twitter: @timbavati