27/07/2022
Not all hero's wear capes. RIP you warrior
Rhino Hero Murdered [Updated] :
"I'm a hero. I am not shy to say to myself, that I'm a hero. Because I know that the poacher, before he shoots at the rhino, is going to shoot at me first".
Anton Mzimba’s words turned out to be hauntingly prophetic.
As the Anti-Poaching Unit’s Head Ranger for the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, his home is situated right next to the Reserve, in Acornhoek. This is where he was assassinated last night. Intelligence-driven information revealed that there had been numerous threats against his life, and that his murder was in retaliation for refusing to provide the local Rhino Poaching Syndicate with the exact locations of Rhino. Timbavati shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park.
Anton had been a field ranger for 24 years, dedicating his entire life to the protection of Wildlife. At the 2016 Rhino Conservation Awards, he won the title of Best Field Ranger. He also served as the technical advisor for Global Conservation Corps.
This brutal murder has left the Conservation world stunned, with many friends and colleagues taking to social media to pay tribute to this icon, and mourn the tremendous loss.
“While Anton could have made more money then he'd make in a lifetime for rhino information, his ethics and belief in wildlife/rhino conservation was greater. Thus, Anton sacrificed his life because he believed so strongly in the cause. A true loss,” Jim Schneider said in a facebook post.
Emotions run high, and tears have flowed around the world, at the senseless end to this respected and beloved man’s life.
“And a titan of anti-poaching and the ranger sector gets murdered in his home. Too many rangers have death marks. A globally respected friend and colleague is no more,” said Ashwell Glasson.
Not only was this man a passionate conservationist, but he had a deep understanding of the socio-economic challenges facing people living in close proximity to these Reserves.
In a 2021 interview, Anton said the following:
“The origin of the problem is similar across many parts of Africa. People were displaced from their land when the protected areas were formed, forced to settle on the outskirts of the protected areas.
“They lost their grazing fields, they could no longer access natural resources such as firewood woodland areas to collect firewood, and they were deprived of or water sources that were essential during periods of drought. They were not happy. The situation was made worse by the fact that if they want to access the protected areas, they have to pay, and also wildlife from the park frequently eat their crops and kill their livestock, further fueling anger.”
The local people also see foreign tourists coming to enjoy the protected areas, while the communities are not even allowed to benefit from the game meat to eat. When they do illegally hunt and bring meat back, they are regarded as heroes in the communities.
“The people are not benefitting in any form,” notes Mzimba. “We need to find a way of sharing natural resources. For example, it could be firewood, sharing game meat during the culling of surplus game in the protected area, sharing a harvest. If we want to control the situation, we need to share resources with local communities.
“Rangers are armed and equipped with modern technology gargets, but they are not winning the fight. The only solution is to sit down and draw up map out a memorandum of understanding or an agreement. We need to give people ownership rights to of the land and share resources in a fair way. When there are new developments for tourism, the people need to be able to have their say and be heard.”
The rhinos are one of the most emblematic endangered animals, but they are far from alone. Rhino horns catch media attention as they are a multi-million-dollar business on the black market, but the trade of animals does not stop there ¬– ivory, bones from lions and leopards, pangolin scales, and more are also highly valuable commodities. “If these animals disappear, it will have a negative effect on the local communities,” notes Mzimba. “Without the animals, jobs will disappear, especially for the young people, but ultimately it will affect everyone and everything in a negative way.”
Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and all who loved him.
Hamba kahle Anton Mzimba , and may you Rest in Power.
Note: [Rhino Poaching is a war, and neither the protectors, nor the Rhinos are winning. Just like in a traditional war, there is unacceptable collateral damage. Rhino Poaching should be declared an act of Terrorism, because that is exactly what it is.]
“Nobody in the world needs a Rhino Horn, but a Rhino” ~ Paul Oxton (Founder/Director )
Written by Carina Crayton (Co-Founder ) ©Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation 27 July 2022
Update: 28 July 2022 at 16h10:
Mpumalanga Police have confirmed that the hunt is on for three suspects driving a White VW Polo, who fled after shooting Mzimba and his wife. Several shots had been fired at Mzimba, who later passed away in hospital. Mzimba's wife was shot in the stomach and is receiving medical attention.
