THE murder of Anton Mzimba head of ranger services at Timbavati Private nature reserve has highlighted the sacrifices rangers make in preserving wildlife.
His brutal murder five days before World Ranger day, gives significance to this day as it celebrates rangers who are killed or injured protecting natural resources.
Before succumbing to gunshot injuries on the night of 26 July 2022, Mzimba had been receiving death threats however chose to turn down offers to live at an alternative residence.
Following this tragic loss to his family and the conservation family at large, police have launched a manhunt for the three gunmen who opened fire on Mzimba and his wife at their Edinburgh Trust home in Mpumalanga.
Police said the motive for the killing would be part of their investigations.
Condemning the incident Minister of Forestry Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), Barbara Creecy, said she had been inspired by Mzimba who she met in June during a visit to the Association of Private Nature Reserves on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park.
“His murder only a few days ahead of World Ranger Day on the 31st July, highlights the dangers rangers have to face while protecting the country’s wildlife on a daily basis.
“Anton dedicated his life to conservation as a promotion of southern relations between conservation authorities and communities living on the outskirts of protected areas,” Creecy said.
According to Creecy, recent trends have shown that poaching syndicates have been moving away from the Kruger National Park into private reserves in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
“This makes it all the more important for national government to shift its focus to supporting provincial authorities and private reserves in the war on rhino poaching,” Creecy said.
In 2016 Mzimba took the Rhino Conservation Awards most coveted award for Ranger of the Year, and he was also a key member of the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection forum.
In a podcast released in March this year with Global Conservation Corp- where he was technical advisor, Mzimba shared his life story, dreams, and the emotional toll of facing armed poachers.
“We have to make an impact on wildlife or fauna and flora conservation…up until today I am still full of that energy to go the extra mile and do my best before I hang my boots; before retirement or something happens to me,”Mzimba said.
Mzimba said that over the years the role of a ranger has shifted from protecting the environment against subsistence poachers who were after game meat to the more hardcore dangerous, well-organized syndicates of rhino poaching.
“Now, instead of dealing with poachers carrying panga’s and spears, we were now dealing with a well armed group of people who have planned to come to the reserve … to defend themselves against us.
“We [rangers] joined this field knowing that we’ve got the Big Five- and the Big Five is dangerous, but now we are meeting people who are armed, there to kill us so that they can operate freely in this environment,” said Mzimba.
His death has sent shockwaves globally, with the Duke of Cambridge Prince William calling for justice for the slain park ranger.
“Committed and brave rangers like Anton are central to the conservation of Africa’s fantastic wildlife. Those responsible must swiftly be brought to justice. My thoughts are with his family,” said Prince William.
Activist and human rights attorney Richard Spoor expressed that the murder of Mzimba is an outrage.
“He was a man of enormous courage and principle. His work combating wildlife gangsters made him a target in his own community, yet he refused to run to safety, when he could have, he stayed with the people he loved,” said Spoor.
Timbavati private nature reserve through a statement expressed that Mzimba dedicated his life to fighting for wildlife and uplifting the people he knew needed his support.
“He worked tirelessly in motivating the youth to become future rangers, creating a vision of hope for young people to grow up respecting and protecting wildlife as he did.
“…Something he shared with everyone he met, was that a field ranger should be seen as a hero, someone to aspire to become. Anton lived his beliefs, never wavered from his convictions and, above all, he remained a brave and honest man,” read the statement.
Timbavati has since initiated the Anton Mzimba Legacy Fund for those wishing to pledge donations to his legacy, which has so far raised over R222 000.
Statistics from December 2021 revealed “a total of 451 rhino were poached in South Africa in, 327 within government reserves and 124 on private property.”
Meanwhile the Kruger National Park (KNP) Management and staff members held a ceremonial event to pay homage to the Ranger Corps, on Friday, 29 July 2022; as part of the International World Ranger Day celebrations reports the SA National Parks.
World Ranger Day is celebrated worldwide each year on 31 July to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and cultural heritage.
It is a day to pause and reflect on the courage and sacrifice that Rangers make. On this day we honour fallen Rangers and stand with the people bravely protecting wildlife on the frontline of conservation worldwide.
The highlight of the ceremony was a tribute to the late Field Ranger and dog handler, Shando Mathebula, who died in the line of duty at Shangoni Ranger Section on 4 May 2022. He was remembered as a young man who was dedicated to his profession and who served with discipline and distinction.
“The work of a Ranger is diverse and complex; and our responsibility as Management is to continue to encourage them as they lead the way for all of us in conserving our country’s protected and conserved areas, cultural sites and biodiversity. Without them we would see more biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Many Rangers also protect the resources of people whose lives and cultures are inseparable from nature, said the KNP Head Ranger, Catherine Dreyer.
Activities included Rangers’ drill, a guard of honour, wreath laying ceremony, the unveiling of Shando Mathebula’s plaque and key note address by the KNP Managing Executive, Gareth Coleman.
“Rangers deserve not only our admiration and acknowledgement but our undivided support as they continue to protect our natural heritage assets. We also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all the spouses and families of all our Rangers for the sacrifice they all make on daily basis with the knowledge that their partner’s lives might be lost due to the threats that come with the responsibility of dealing with wildlife crime; concluded Dreyer. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
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