human-animal bond
You grew up surrounded by the energy of your family’ s Italian restaurant in Johannesburg. Which memories stand out most from that time?
One of the regulars at our family’ s restaurant, Roma, was a big-game hunter named Luciano Conti. My mother called him“ Tanganyika” because of where he hunted. During the off-season, he would tell stories about East Africa – its people, and landscapes. As a boy, I was spellbound. Those stories opened my imagination to a world beyond Johannesburg and planted the first seeds of my fascination with the bush.
When did you realise conservation was more than an interest and had become your life’ s calling?
As a young man, I was happiest outdoors – riding horses, fishing, and spending time in the Magaliesberg. The grey pavements of downtown Johannesburg never felt like home to me. I eventually found work at a small private game reserve, where I was exposed to hunting. Although that experience deepened my understanding of the bush, I quickly realised trophy hunting did not align with my conservation ethos. More than 45 years later, I have never had reason to reconsider that decision.
Many people romanticise the life of a game ranger. How does the reality differ from the dream?
The reality is far more demanding than the romantic image many people have. Rangers are often on the front lines of protecting wildlife from serious threats, including poaching and habitat destruction. There are moments of despair and frustration, but there is also a profound sense of purpose. Knowing that your work contributes to preserving something irreplaceable makes it one of the most rewarding careers in the world.
You have worked in several famous game reserves. Which experiences had the greatest impact on you?
Working in private game reserves gave me the opportunity to spend countless hours learning about the bush and its wildlife. Sharing that knowledge with visitors from around the world was incredibly rewarding. Personally, MalaMala in the Sabi Sand region left a particularly strong impression on me, with the Timbavati reserves a close second. These places shaped my understanding of both the beauty and the responsibility that come with conservation.
Saba, your K9 partner, became an important part of your anti-poaching work. What made that partnership so special?
Saba came into my life as rhino poaching was becoming an increasingly urgent crisis. After researching suitable breeds, I chose a Belgian Malinois [ Shepherd ] and began training her at eight weeks old to trail scent specifically for tracking rhino poachers. What made her training unique was that she was never taught to attack or show aggression. In 2014, when she was just 17 months old, she successfully tracked a rhino poacher from scent clue to arrest in extreme heat. That moment demonstrated the extraordinary potential of K9s in anti-poaching work and cemented the bond between us. www. petpals. co. za 63