Archive for: Guardians

Tharollo was born and raised in Buffelshoek village in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, adjacent to the iconic Kruger National Park. He started his career in conservation with the Protrack Company where he was trained and deployed as a member of the Anti-Poaching Unit’s Task Team. After two years of service, he joined the Knight Protection Services as a guard for their mining division. However, the African bush kept on calling and in December 2017 he the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s, in partnership with the Rainforest Trust, newly formed Soutpansberg Protected Area (SPA) as a Field Ranger. His key functions as a SPA Field Ranger is, to safeguard the reserve and its wildlife through regular patrols, supplies special information of a biological nature and is also tasked with reserve infrastructure maintenance. Tharollo enjoys exploring nature, running, cooking and playing soccer.

Pedro has been working with FUNDAECO for a year, but has been working in the forest for 20
years. He used to work with Philip Tanimoto (The Rainforest Trust GIS Officer) as a guide and
helped Philip in the field. Before becoming a field guide Pedro worked as a farmer.

Ruben is originally from Antiguo Morelos, Tamaulipas. He is currently monitoring parrots in the project “Protection of parrots in danger of extinction in Mexico” at the Rancho Regalo de Dios.

Tankoh Solomon Tayim was born in the Besali village adjacent to the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. He dropped out from secondary school when his father died. As the first male child in his family, it was his responsibility to take care of and support his mother and siblings. It was from this situation that he got involved with the trapping and hunting of animals such as cane rats, porcupine, duikers and bush pig. He also engaged in the cultivation of cocoa and palm to generate income for his family. In 2010 he came in contact with ERuDeF during community sensitizations on the creation of the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. He then became involved in the conservation project as a bio-monitor and he is currently working as a field guide and community ranger in the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

Jiba lives in kwaNdengezi, Durban, South Africa. He has a BSc degree in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Diploma in Project management. Jiba is responsible for coordinating and carrying out much of the social engagement, sustainable development and environmental education necessary for Endangered Wildlife Trust’s work towards protecting the extensive Adam’s Mission wetlands south of Durban. He is a mentor to our Biodiversity Protection Officers who patrol the area and engage with local community members. He has a keen interest in the field of bioacoustics, which is a tool Endangered Wildlife Trust uses to monitor flagship endangered species. His career objective is to grow an outstanding career in the field of environmental management and community development and be able to offer practical solutions to environmental challenges that modern society is faced with, as well to improve the livelihoods of people in both rural and urban areas.