Help a Ranger Get Back to Anti-Poaching
Help Chrisjan Visser get back to training dogs for anti-poaching in Africa
Did you know that dog handling is among the top skills of anti-poaching rangers? Well-trained dogs help detect wildlife trafficking, and to prepare them for such work, different centres and schools operate in Africa.
Chrisjan Visser is the director of one of these centres. He is an experienced anti-poaching ranger who founded Kilo 9 Academy. He ensures the training of dogs to combat wildlife crime and shares his knowledge with other rangers. While apprehending a poacher, Chrisjan experienced a near-death struggle that left him with severe back injuries. Despite enduring the pain for as long as he could, Chrisjan eventually sought medical attention. In February 2023, he underwent a successful surgery to address his injuries.
Unfortunately, the high cost of medical care and the relatively low wages that rangers receive placed a significant financial burden on Chrisjan. Despite his mounting debt, Chrisjan remained determined to return to his work training dogs for anti-poaching operations.
Inspired by Chrisjan's dedication to wildlife conservation, our Wildlife Forensic Fund community stepped up to support his recovery. Through collective efforts, we raised funds to help Chrisjan pay off his medical expenses and alleviate his financial distress.
Today, Chrisjan is back on his feet, ready to continue his vital work training dogs for anti-poaching operations. His team at Kilo 9 Academy has been sharing updates on his recovery process on their official Instagram page.
Discover more about this past project below:
DESIRABILITY
Chrisjan is one of the anti-poaching rangers who has personally arrested criminals trying to smuggle illegal firearms, rhino horns, and live pangolins. He has extensive practical experience in fighting wildlife crime. Once Chrisjan recovers from the back injuries, he can resume his daily job of training dogs to help track and arrest poachers, leading a team of brave, like-minded professionals. This will contribute to the continued growth and success of Kilo 9 Academy, as Chrisjan serves as its director and inspirational leader.
VIABILITY
Donating to the recovery of Chrisjan means helping to prepare new generations of anti-poaching rangers and strengthening crackdown on wildlife crime in South Africa. Chrisjan is a true warrior whose fight against cruel wildlife crime was paused by a poacher's attack. But you can help him to get back on track.
Donating to this project is also a chance to support development of dog training and integration of dog handling into daily activities of anti-poaching units. This is incredibly important, as in favourable conditions and with the correct care, one dog has the ability to secure a wildlife habitat of up to 32km2, and has the search capabilities of up to 60 rangers covering the same ground over the same time.
FEASIBILITY
Currently, Chrisjan is in a hospital recovering after the surgery. He is under the supervision of leading doctors going through needed procedures. The main goal of this campaign is to help Chrisjan get back to living pain-free, so he can get back to anti-poaching. With our help, Chrisjan can have a quicker and smoother recovery.