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Jacob Adong use to be a hunter and trapper. He started hunting at the age of 18, going to the bush with dogs, trapping, chasing and killing animals like cane rats, porcupines, and many others. In December 1993, he later started using guns to hunt larger animals like monkeys, duiker and bush pigs. Little did he know some of these animals have been declared as protected species until he came in contact with ERuDeF in 2004. After that encounter with ERuDeF, Jacob became a wildlife conservation advocate in his community, Bechati, and he is currently working as a field guide and a 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.

Shumani was born and raised in Venda, Limpopo province, South Africa, and has a National Diploma in Nature Conservation from the University of South Africa (UNISA). As a senior field ranger, Shumani is responsible for assisting with the day-to-day running of Medike Nature Reserve, including activities such as supervising Soutpansberg Protected Area (SPA) field rangers, identifying and mapping alien species sites to be cleared, regular monitoring of cleared sites, anti-poaching operations, eco-tourism ventures within neighbouring SPA communities, detecting and controlling illegal activities in the SPA (in conjunction with the manager), by patrolling, collecting strategic biodiversity and habitat data in the SPA, and assisting with LBSP, The Limpopo Province’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme in the western Soutpansberg, in collaboration with the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET).