{"id":61025,"date":"2013-09-25T03:04:29","date_gmt":"2013-09-25T03:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sierraexpressmedia.com\/?p=61025"},"modified":"2013-09-25T03:04:29","modified_gmt":"2013-09-25T03:04:29","slug":"rhino-rangers-star-in-new-al-jazeera-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/?p=61025","title":{"rendered":"Rhino Rangers star in new Al Jazeera series"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Al Jazeera series\u00a0Wildlife Warzone<\/i>\u00a0explores the only\u00a0thing standing between heavily-armed poachers and the decimation of a species: rangers.<\/p>\n

Poaching is\u00a0worth $17 billion a year and is being fueled by demand in Asia, where rhino horn in\u00a0particular is believed to have, unproven, medicinal properties, including the\u00a0ability to cure cancer. Poaching is big\u00a0business in South Africa – rhino horn is now worth more than gold.<\/p>\n

The six-part series follows a new batch of trainee rangers\u00a0as they are\u00a0put through their paces over 38 days, during which time they have no access to\u00a0the outside world. They are pushed to breaking point, both physically and mentally.\u00a0\u00a0Some will crack under the pressure. \u00a0Those that don’t will emerge as highly-trained operatives capable of\u00a0battling the poachers they are up against, many of whom are former\u00a0soldiers.<\/p>\n

Being a wildlife ranger is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.\u00a0Each night a battle rages between South Africa\u2019s wildlife rangers and criminal gangs.\u00a0As trainee ranger Chrisjan Visser\u00a0says, “Being shot at is hard to describe.\u00a0You see the weapon coming up and, a fraction of a second later, you hit the\u00a0deck. And you close your eyes and pray.”<\/p>\n

“There have been\u00a0many programmes about the wildlife crisis in Africa,” says Al Jazeera English director of programmes Paul Eedle.\u00a0\u00a0“However this series takes a\u00a0unique look at the issue through the eyes of trainee anti-poaching rangers. The\u00a0series of 25-minute films follows\u00a0the new recruits as some leave home for the first time, enter a brutal world of\u00a0military training and finally head to the frontline of Africa\u2019s\u00a0Wildlife\u00a0Warzone<\/i>.”<\/p>\n

Many of the\u00a0trainees want to become rangers to protect their habitat. As trainee Nabiel Leon says, \u201cThere is no doubt in my\u00a0mind I will love what I will be doing. It is to protect the rhinos\u2026protecting\u00a0what I love.”<\/p>\n

For others, the course\u00a0is a way out of poverty. As trainee Lunga Nyawe says, \u201cI hope this is going to change my life. I don\u2019t want to be\u00a0stuck here and have no opportunities to go further in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"rhino\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Vincent Barkas, the\u00a0head of the training company Protrack, describes the challenges to the trainees.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re going to be given a semi-automatic weapon when you finish training. You are going to have 1\/100th of second to decide whether you can pull\u00a0the trigger or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

It may be a\u00a0dangerous job but it\u2019s a privilege for the trainees. As trainee Gerald Mhalanga says, “My friends from back at school, none of\u00a0them have seen wildlife like I have, ever before.\u00a0\u00a0I love being with the\u00a0wildlife.”<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s nothing like the gratification of finally getting\u00a0your man and potentially helping save a species from extinction. “We can\u00a0wait for hours and hours,” says Chrisjan. “But then you hear those footsteps coming.\u00a0Suddenly you forget everything.\u00a0\u00a0It’s ‘go’ time.\u00a0\u00a0Everything happens\u00a0in seconds.\u00a0\u00a0And then it’s over.\u00a0\u00a0But it’s a great feeling.\u00a0\u00a0You\u00a0catch this guy red-handed after hours and hours of waiting.”<\/p>\n

Wildlife Warzone<\/i>\u00a0is partly shot at Shamwari in the Eastern Cape, named the World’s Leading Conservation Company and Leading Safari Lodge at the 2012 World Travel Awards.<\/p>\n