At dinner the other evening it came as a surprise to me to learn that Anton Mzimba (Kruger2Canyon News – August 2022) had been posthumously awarded The Best Game Ranger Award at an awards ceremony, The African Conservation Awards, presented by the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) in Kasane, on the Chobe River in Botswana. What a wonderful surprise and so thoroughly deserved.
Thankfully I was able to get in touch with Matt Lindenberg (Global Conservation Corporation) to find out more about the award ceremony.
It was held alongside the Chobe River, at sunset – a beautiful and fitting setting for this ceremony. Anton’s award was saved for last. Colin Rowles and Leo (from Oceans Without Borders) were tied in the runners up position, and Anton won the award. John Jurko II and Matt took the opportunity to speak, and Matt asked for a minute of silence at the end – over 100 attendees stood up to honour Anton, and all the brothers and sisters that have been lost on the front lines.
All the rangers present had lost their equivalent of an Anton in their lives. The GRAA put out a figure that on average, every week, three rangers die on the front lines around the world! That is a statistic from The Thin Green Line – and it equates to over 150 rangers’ deaths per year! Anton therefore represents a much bigger issue and a huge problem facing conservation areas around the world.
The GRAA sponsored a pair of Zeiss binoculars and a pair of Jim Green boots, which will be given to Anton’s replacement at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. The trophy that was received on Anton’s behalf will be taken back to his family.
Once again, we reiterate our shock at Anton’s murder, but draw courage, strength and hope from this award, recognition of his service, and the fact that others are standing up to pick up his fallen baton in the fight for conservation.
Kruger2Canyon News humbly apologises for the oversight in the misspelling of Anton’s surname in the last edition.
Featured image: John Jurko II and Matt Lindenberg (both Global Conservation Corporation) accept the Best Game Ranger Award 2022 awarded posthumously to Anton Mzimba
