Big Dreamer from South Africa: Story of Innocent Buthelezi, Ranger in a Nature Reserve
A regular working day of Innocent Buthelezi, a Section Ranger at a private nature reserve in Limpopo has something in common with corporate jobs. Doing paperwork, managing the team, and answering emails. But Innocent also does a job most office employees would never think about. He monitors the population of wild animals, takes care of the reserve and its visitors, and even pursues poachers. And if arresting them might be feasible, presenting evidence in court is a real challenge. That is why Innocent has applied for a scholarship to study at the Wildlife Forensic Academy.
"I have been working in the nature conservation field for over 10 years now," tells Innocent. He started working in nature reserves in 2012 when joined the team of Hartbeeshoek Nature Reserve in South Africa as a field guide. Back then Innocent was responsible for assisting in organising touristic safaris and doing fence patrols. In 10 years, he managed to climb the career ladder and become a section ranger. Now Innocent manages teams of anti-poaching rangers, and maintenance staff, collects ecological data, and assists in the general management of a whole private nature reserve.
To be able to forge the career path, Innocent received special education. He has a Bachelor's degree in nature conservation from Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa. In addition, Innocent continues getting special skills at short-term courses in law enforcement, anti-poaching activities, and dog handling. Innocent is a professional dog handler, with big experience in transportation patrolling. For almost two years, he worked as a wildlife trade officer at The Endangered Wildlife Trust, one of the largest non-governmental organisations in southern Africa. Innocent was a part of the team implementing the Wildlife In Trade Programme aimed at fighting illegal wildlife trade. And it was dog handling that helped Innocent in his day-to-day work.
"I am really passionate about continuing my education," says Innocent. He has also finished a course on ensuring private security, however, he mentions there is no such training on forensic as the Wildlife Forensic Academy offers. "I need practical experience in crime scene management, collecting evidence, and attending court cases, and I am sure the Academy can give me this knowledge," highlights the ranger.
Fighting poaching has been a part of Innocent's work for a long time. He was working as an anti-poaching ranger at Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Dabchick Wildlife Reserve for two years. And now he manages an anti-poaching team at a private nature reserve. Innocent has not been at an actual crime scene until now. However, a few times he pursued groups of poachers preventing potential crimes. Following the course at the Wildlife Forensic Academy would prepare Innocent to act effectively at a potential crime scene, managing the teammates to collect evidence and present it in court.
Innocent describes wildlife crime as a fundamental societal problem in South Africa. "Poverty is a big driver of wildlife crime," tells the ranger. As illegal traders and traditional healers offer large sums of money in exchange for horns or bones of wild animals, "people take the opportunity." Besides hunting, another big problem is poisoning wild animals. Poachers use poisoned wires to violently catch animals, which considerably degrades the population of lions, hyenas, and vultures. With the rising number of crimes, prosecuting such criminals is getting even more important.
Innocent is looking to pursue the 3 Day Wildlife Forensic Training at the Wildlife Forensic Academy. "I am a hands-on person, so working on the crime scene, collecting the evidence, and doing the autopsy sound most exciting to me. And of course, the lab work, and DNA analysis are very interesting too," shares the ranger. He believes that this training would make a big contribution to his career. Innocent would like to join a team at one of the South African National Parks, where poaching happens most of the time. And having experience in leading teams, he is ready to transfer the knowledge to teammates and manage crime scenes effectively.
Doing training at the Wildlife Forensic Academy is only a part of the continuous learning plans Innocent has. In 2023, he will start doing a course on environmental law and its enforcement at the University of South Africa. As for the future, he also considers getting a degree in forensic science and technology.
"Recently I have read a report from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa. Over the last few years, there have been a lot of arrests of poachers but few convictions. And I'd like to do my part in ensuring that convictions are made. Maybe later I will become an environmental lawyer. I'm very ambitious. I'm a big dreamer," says Innocent.
Over the last decade, Innocent has made a big contribution to preserving wildlife in South Africa.
Would you help him to make this impact even bigger?
Donate now to sponsor training for Innocent Buthelezi at the Wildlife Forensic Academy.
