Rhino War: A General’s Bold Strategy in the Kruger National Park
Pan Macmillan publishes Rhino War by Major General (Ret.) Johan Jooste with Tony Park.
What the book is about
Rhino War is the riveting account of then 60 year old white military veteran Johan Jooste’s controversial appointment to combat seemingly out of control rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park. He was tasked in 2012 to “go military” and convert the Park’s ranger corps into an elite paramilitary anti-poaching force. Responsible for anti-poaching strategy, planning and execution, he set out to turn the tables on the unprecedented onslaught on a single species. A nearly impossible task, especially as his appointment got frowned upon by elements of SANParks, SAP and SANDF. With sheer doggedness and determination, he and his courageous rangers battled to keep our rhinos safe.
My take on it
Written in conversational tone, I found this bold, shocking and touching tale absolutely unputdownable. Rhino War reads like a full-throttle suspense thriller – a case of truth is stranger than fiction. Only, in this case the truth opens the reader’s eyes to the pointless, brutal crimes committed by greedy, heartless perpetrators against defenseless animals. “I had seen the very worst, most heartless behaviour humans were capable of showing towards an animal” (188).
I am in awe by the sheer scale of coordinated effort it takes to bring about anti-poaching strategies. Let us applaud those who risk their lives in what can only be called a war. Jooste not only points out obstacles in the fight to save rhinos but also shares a wealth of information, insight and suggestions on how to keep on fighting against poaching.
Extract
“Our rangers ran the risk, daily, of being killed or wounded by a poacher; they spent protracted periods in the field, often shunned by their own communities, who saw the poachers as ‘Robin Hood’ figures. Poachers risked their lives in pursuit of a commodity: rhino horn, worth more than gold, diamonds or cocaine.”
More about the authors of Rhino War
Major General (Ret.) Johan Jooste retired from the SANDF after three and a half decades of active service. In 2012, het was appointed Commanding Officer, Special Projects at SANParks. He established a Wildlife Crime and Corrupton Combatting Centre, with funding from the Peace Parks Foundation. He now serves as a Programme Manager for Law Enforcement and Security with said foundation.
Bestselling author Tony Park writes thriller novels and non-fiction books. He did a tour of duty in Afghanistan and served in the Austalian Army.
Rhino War: A General’s Bold Strategy in the Kruger National Park is available at all good bookstores. You can also get it here.
Read Louise Viljoen’s review on The living deserts of Southern Africa here.
