Generally, what does Global Conservation Corps (GCC) do and where is it based?
We are a non-profit organization that bridges the gap between community and wildlife. Poaching is a huge problem. We lose one to two rhinos every day. We support rangers and educate communities around wildlife refuges inspiring kids to become future rangers as opposed to future poachers. Our global headquarters is in Atlanta and our operational work is in South Africa.
Why did you start Global Conservation Corps?
I trained field rangers on the front lines at the Wildlife College at Kruger National Park (KNP). A Zulu man, Martin Mthembu was my mentor and one of the best and most courageous ranger trainers on the African continent. He saved my life twice – once from a Black Mamba snake and the second time from two lions. Martin believed that we need to teach ownership in conservation and engage the communities living around the wildlife refuge, hoping that some of these kids will become rangers themselves instead of turning to poaching. When Martin died in a car accident I knew I had to take his work further. GCC takes impoverished youth living near wildlife refuges, train them and give them a purpose. In the poor local communities that live around KNP most of the kids have never seen wildlife. GCC creates access to these kids in the hope of building empathy for wild animals.
Have you always been interested in wildlife?
Yes, from a young age I was a birder. I did my first visit to KNP when I was 6 years old. I was lucky enough to go out with some rangers and saw lion tracks and hippos. The memory of those people protecting wildlife got me on my own path.
What is your favorite wild animal and why?
I have three. The Rhino. They are super gentle, very threatened and misunderstood. Cheetahs. Only one out of 10 cubs survive their first year. Cheetah moms are amazing. Honey Badger. They take no nonsense and have amazing courage. They can fight off a herd of elephants. Also they can be bitten by a Black Mamba snake and survive.
Tell us about the kids you work with in South Africa and how you find them?
These kids grow up in small, impoverished, rural communities around KNP. We try and build empathy from a young age by exposing these kids to wildlife through various activities. We have a Future Rangers program that logs the interests and aptitudes of the kids we work with from 5 to 18 years old and when they leave school we try and help them build a future. A lot of them just want to leave the area as soon as they can and go to big cities but we try to help the ones we can. The problem is that there are so many kids and few jobs.
Your movie, Rhino Man, is coming out soon. What was your inspiration behind that?
Martin Mthembu is the inspiration for this movie. Rangers are soldiers fighting a war to protect animals. They get paid $500 per month – so not very well. Poaching is big business. Poachers know where Rangers’ families live and they are threatened daily. The movie is about these Rangers who protect South Africa’s rhinos from being poached to extinction.
How many rhinos are living in the wild in South Africa right now and are poachers still a big problem?
80% of the world’s rhino population is in South Africa. Half live in the Kruger National Park. There are approximately 26,000 in the world and 5 different species. In Africa you find the Black and White Rhino. There are about 9,000 to 13,000 White Rhino in Africa. There are less than 5,000 Black Rhino in the world (about 1,900 in South Africa). Poaching has been going down but during the pandemic there was a big surge. Rangers were laid off so poachers moved in. We are losing 1 to 2 rhinos every day.
Do you think poaching can be stopped?
I have to believe it can. In theory it can. It takes community ownership and political will. We will always need Rangers as a deterrent to hold the line. Until people are living in better circumstances, poaching will continue. It is not just rhinos. Every animal is being consumed. Africa is the last chance to do it differently.
What is the most fun thing for the kids you work with in South Africa to do?
Game drives. Going on safari and seeing wildlife up close.
What does someone need to do to become a Ranger?
It’s a one week selection process, paramilitary style. Once they make it through that it is a 6 week armed basic course. Rangers need to exemplify commitment, leadership, courage and integrity.
What are some dangers involved in becoming a Ranger?
In the field you are working to protect dangerous animals. There are also diseases like Malaria to deal with. Poachers target and kill Rangers. Poaching syndicates kill the rangers and then get their families killed.
What is your favorite thing about this job?
Being a part of systemic change in South Africa. I try to show that the kids living around Kruger National Park in poverty that the National Park is part of their national heritage and they deserve to be a part of it.
Also my staff. Through them I get a glimmer of hope that there can be a different future. I started this for the wildlife, but my people give me so much hope.
What is a story that you like to tell?
I like to tell people how Martin Mthembu (Rhino Man) saved my life. He saved it twice actually. The first time I was training 16 students in the bush, living off the land. We walked into an area where 25 lions were sleeping. One student stepped on a branch that woke the lions up. They were roaring. A lioness, 9 feet behind me, was crouched and ready to attack. Martin, unarmed, screamed and got between me and the lioness and held his ground. She eventually backed off. A lion can charge 60 feet in 1 second but humans are apex predators. The lioness was causing a distraction giving her pack time to move off.
What do you want people to know about GCC?
It is about investing in people to save wildlife. If we can’t secure the future’s of the local communities living around wildlife, there will be no wildlife. We must create a mutually beneficial relationship between wildlife and the people
If I, or someone like me, wanted to come work for GCC would that be possible?
Our approach is to bring skilled people into the classrooms in our communities to educate and provide skills development and opportunity creation for people living alongside wildlife.
Families can come to South Africa and be educated in all we do.
What can the community do to help you?
It starts with educational awareness. Become educated on the problems involved in protecting wildlife. Share us on Instagram and social media. We do events in Atlanta so join us there and help with events. If you have any connections that do corporate matching or want to pay the salary of a South African ranger guarding rhinos against poachers let me know.
Even with organizations like GCC, is there still a possibility that wildlife will become extinct?
Yes, unfortunately. At this rate of poaching, rhinos will be extinct within 10 years. Everyone needs to come together to solve the problem. A rhino horn is worth about $100,000.
What animal is in the most danger?
Rhinos are super endangered. In the wild there are only about 7,000 Cheetahs and 10,000 lions.
What is the most important thing people should be doing right now to protect wildlife?
Everyone has a part to play. It doesn’t need to be Rhinos in Africa. It could be squirrels in Georgia. Just do something. Rhino Man the movie will be premiering at one of the big film festivals later this year. Watching the fild will provide a lot of answers and inspiration.
How can people get in touch with you and follow the work we do?
Follow us on Instagram and look at our website. We also have a very cool newsletter with stories from the field.