1. In 2010 Amkhala Game Reserve located in the Eastern
cape fell victim to a gruesome poaching attack. Two of
their white rhino bulls were found lifeless and hornless
on the reserve. Devastated and determined the owners
of the reserve implemented extreme measures to make
sure none of their rhinos ever face an ending so grisly.
The rhinos are under 24 hour surveillance by game
rangers. Conrad, a game ranger at Amakhala, who has
devoted his life to protection and conservation of this
species with Dara Lewis, journalist of Wildlife's Way.
Dara Lewis (DL) Conrad I really admire
your career choice, what interested you
about this field?
Conrad (C) I wanted adventure. I wanted
to join the army but didn't find it fitting. I
love animals too and being a game
ranger combined both of those interest.
DL You watch the rhinos closely every day, it's
your duty to protect them by all means. Do you
ever get nervous?
C No, I never get nervous. This is my job to
protect them...to protect all of the animals on
this reserve. It disgust me the way poachers
ruthlessly kill them. It's just not okay.
DL Have you had any dangerous encounters
with poachers before?
C Yes, I was stationed at a park near the
Limpopo River and they through heavy stones
at me trying to knock me out. I had a few other
encounters but that was the worst....thankfully
DL Thankfully is right, it's good to know you
survived that and you are okay. What is a day
like in the life of a ranger?
C To tell you the truth, it's lonely sometimes.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my job. I feel it is
important and watching over these animals is
important. But, it does get lonely. When I'm not
curtailing the park, I'm reading or working out.
DL I never thought about how lonely it could
be, but I can imagine. It sounds like it's calm
around the park, which is a good sign. What is
the protocol if a poacher is spotted?
C It is pretty quite around here, especially in
comparison to my previous station. It is a good
sign. I'm actually now allowed to disclose that
but the protocol is thorough and effective.
DL Why are you not allowed to disclose that
information?
C Well, poaching is a serious problem. It's more
than a serious problem. We have to take measures
to make sure that if we are ever in a situation like
that our movements are unknown. On your game
drive you probably noticed that the driver never
said rhinos over the dispatch or never told you how
many rhinos are on this reserve. Having a rhino is
like having a gold mine. People go crazy over gold.
We have to make sure our gold is always
protected...at all times.
DL Yes, that is very true and our driver did
explain his incognito use of language to us. You
compared rhinos to the worth of a gold mines, I
recently learned the price of a kilogram of rhino
horn is $30,000 making it worth more than
gold...With a worth that high do you believe that
rhino poaching will ever end?
C I don't know, all I do know is that I hope it
does. But as long as it is still an issue I will still
be a game ranger. That is what I do know.
Conrad on right,
posing with
another ranger