African Wildlife & Environment Issue 82

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

that this was World Ranger Day made this event so much more special. According to the African Roll of Honour for 2022 which is put out by the International Ranger Federation (IFR) and the GRAA, Anton was one of ninety-nine other rangers who had lost their lives this past year across the African continent. This Remembrance Day ended with a ‘missing man’ formation flypast by fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. All the people involved in counter poaching activities had formed up in two lines facing the setting sun. The aircraft flew in formation towards the people on the ground and one of them peeled off, representing and honouring Anton Mzimba, and on the ground,

Anton and Timbavati Rangers (Global Conservation Corps, photo: Rhino Man)

addition to work being undertaken in the seven integrated wildlife zones the partnership now includes both the financial and transport sectors and the transit and end-user countries in South-East Asia, especially with the Peoples Republic of China, Malaysia, and Vietnam.We urge all who are concerned about rhino poaching and the toll it is taking on our rangers to reach out with concrete offers of help to the APNR Management. Our duty now is to pick up Ranger Mzimba’s fallen spear and continue the battle in his name. There is no greater tribute we can pay to this man who made the supreme sacrifice for conservation of our endangered species.” Anton was laid to rest on Saturday 6 August 2022. The community is devastated and there is an urgent need to catch the murderers. The frustration is that despite the calls from a very high level for this to be a priority, the perception is that progress in this case seems to be slow. The previous week, on World Ranger Day 31 July 2022 there was a remembrance service held for Anton Mzimba at the Lornay Airstrip in the Timbavati. Attending this and seeing all my old work colleagues, brought back all the emotion and I was battling to come to grips with the fact that Anton was really gone. Seeing Anton’s parents and other family members who had travelled from Mozambique was also heart-breaking.We were there to remember a man who had lived his life to the full, fully committed to what he believed in. After Edwin Pierce, the Timbavati warden had highlighted aspects of Anton’s career and described the character of the man, others were also given a chance to pay their respects. Being very aware

everyone came to attention and saluted as the aircraft flew overhead. The aircraft then all did a final low-level fly-by as the sun was setting. This was an incredible tribute to an incredible man. The tears were flowing. Anton was born on 11 February 1980 and was killed on 26 July 2022. At 42 years of age, he still had his life ahead of him. Please help honour his legacy by going to the following websites; https://timbavati. co.za/ or https://www.gameranger.org/ or https:// globalconservationcorps.org/ Anton will always be remembered as a true hero and his legacy will endure, despite his life being cut short at such a young age. One of Anton’s sayings when recruiting field rangers was “You need someone that has a passion for being a field ranger. This is our calling. This is our mission. This is our legacy.” Anton lived a life of example, and we can only aspire to follow in his footsteps and honour his memory, by continuing this fight against the rhino poachers. Rest in Peace, my friend!

Bryan Havemann General Manager Selati Game Reserve gm@selatigamereserve.co.za

22 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 82 (2022)