In July 2022, Anton Mzimba, the head ranger at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in South Africa, was killed outside his home by two men, allegedly in connection with his rhino protection work. Two years on, there have been no arrests. To help speed up the investigation, the creators of a documentary film on Mzimba titled Rhino Man recently launched a “Justice for Anton Mzimba” campaign.

The campaign aims to raise funds both to finance a reward for information leading to a conviction, and to fund the efforts of a U.S.-based nonprofit, Focused Conservation, which includes various experts with extensive experience in international investigations, such as former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials. “Their team collaborates closely with in-country investigative teams, helping to build strong cases,” John Jurko II, lead director of Rhino Man, told Mongabay.

Mzimba’s case has been taken over by the Hawks, a specialized unit within the South African Police Service that investigates serious and organized crime. “While some progress has been made since then, it has been slow,” Jurko said.

“Many of the investigators are managing heavy caseloads, working far from the crime scene, and facing significant resource constraints,” he added. “I do believe, however, that the right team is now in charge. This recent campaign I’m leading is focused on providing them with the resources they need to bring Anton’s killers to justice as swiftly as possible.”

Major-General NJ Gerber, who heads the Hawks in Mpumalanga province, where Timbavati is located, said in an email that he couldn’t comment on the status of the case since it’s an ongoing investigation. But he added that “a reward is already been offered by John Jurko and we are in the process of engaging our legal office on the acceptance thereof.

“It is important to solve the case, not only to ensure justice for Anton, but to send a message to the community and would be poachers that we value the lives of the rangers and will leave no stone unturned to bring perpetrators of these crimes to account for their deeds,” Gerber said.

Delayed justice

Wildlife rangers in Africa, who work often in difficult and dangerous situations to safeguard elephants, rhinos, lions, gorillas and other wildlife, have earned both praise and criticism.

Rangers in some parks with military-style policing have been found to have committed human rights abuses and allegedly used deadly violence against communities living near or inside some parks.

At the same time, the job of protecting wildlife can be deadly. According to the Game Rangers Association of Africa, at least 565 African rangers have died on the job since 2011, many of them killed by militias.

In July 2024, Mongabay reported how five rangers working for the conservation NGO African Parks were killed in an attack by militants in Benin’s W National Park.

In separate incidents this year, armed groups involved with trafficking of natural resources also killed four people, two rangers and two community trackers, working for Upemba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Christina Lain, director of the Forgotten Parks Foundation, which manages Upemba.

While Lain said the perpetrators have been identified, securing arrests and prosecutions is a challenge, made difficult by systemic corruption.

The lack of consequences for these crimes impacts how the rangers do their jobs.

For instance, Lain said that after the killings at Upemba, rangers there initially had “difficulties regaining control over the emotions.” They also lacked motivation to go back on patrol; their alcohol consumption increased in the same period, among other things, she added.

Community members were particularly scared to be seen with rangers and fearful for reprisals after the killings of the community trackers. Lain added that her organization is trying its best to provide the communities and rangers with financial and mental health support.

Jurko II said the threats to rangers’ lives from trafficking syndicates discourage rangers from standing up to them and deter new recruits from entering the profession.

“However, I believe this dynamic is beginning to shift, and bringing Anton’s killers — and the broader syndicate behind them — to justice could serve as a pivotal moment in the fight against organized crime in South Africa,” Jurko II said.

Banner image of Anton Mzimba by Kate Vanelli.