The Head Ranger of Timbavati, Anton Mzimba, was shot and killed this week in front of his home.
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, paid tribute to him ahead of World Ranger Day.
Creecy claimed that Mzimba had devoted his life to preserving nature and fostering positive interactions between populations living near protected areas and conservation agencies.
“I would want to use this occasion to commend his personal bravery and the dedication with which he carried out his duties.
The Minister added on Thursday, “I will also be offering my my sympathies to his wife and young family who have lost their father and breadwinner as a result of this horrific crime.
Mzimba was shot dead outside his home on Tuesday of this week, and the Green Scorpions of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment are prepared to assist the police in apprehending his killers.
“Mzimba was named the 2016 Field Ranger of the Year at the annual Rhino Awards.
He has been a field ranger for 24 years. His participation in the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Forum was crucial.
His murder, which occurred just a few days before World Ranger Day on July 31, brings to light the daily dangers that rangers face while defending our nation’s wildlife.
The majority of rhinos slain this year have been in private reserves and KwaZulu-Natal, according to recent trends in rhino poaching.
This makes it even more crucial for the national government to focus on assisting provincial governments and private reserves in the fight against rhino poaching, according to Creecy.
In order to solidify previous agreements made through the Integrated Wildlife Zone initiative and the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Forum and to create a unified front against wildlife crime and support rangers who are on the front lines of anti-poaching efforts, a meeting was held in the Timbavati area last month.
Mzimba spoke passionately at this meeting on the challenges that rangers face on a daily basis as they lead the ground assault.
In order to destroy criminal businesses, the department described how analysts from the Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre, the Green Scorpions, the SAPS, and the Hawks collaborate on targeted investigations.
The National Prosecuting Authority, customs and excise authorities, and law enforcement agencies continue to work together successfully, according to the department, which is why there have been so many successful arrests and convictions over the previous six months.
Partnerships between the public and business sectors are still essential to stopping the trafficking of animals.
The partnership has expanded to include the financial and transportation industries, as well as the transit and end-user nations in Southeast Asia, particularly with the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
This is in addition to the work being done within the seven Integrated Wildlife Zones.
“We implore everyone who is worried about rhino poaching and the toll it is taking on our rangers to get in touch with the APNR management with specific offers of assistance.
It is now our responsibility to pick up Ranger Mzimba’s lost spear and carry on the conflict in his honour.
There is no higher homage we can give to this man who gave his life to protect our endangered species, the minister stated.