'A terrific read . . . an outstanding book!' Gary Player and
Vivienne Player 'A truly heart-wrenching story, but a must-read for
all who value our wild animals and their right to roam free. Grant
Fowlds is a Zulu in a white skin and loves the people who hold the
key to animal conservation. This is an intriguing true story that
sends a clear message to the rest of the world.' Phil Liggett
'Exceptionally readable - a fluid and captivating story . . . a
swashbuckling tale.' Dr Dave Cooper, Rhinos Without Borders
veterinarian, and Debbie Cooper of iSimangaliso Wetland Park 'A
rollicking true-life adventure that celebrates rhinos and people'
Guy Rogers, Daily Herald 'Truly awe-inspiring . . . Read this book.
You will get a sense of Africa like never before, from a true
African soul.' David S. Lee, Limbani in the blockbuster movie Black
Panther 'An excellent read . . . both sobering and uplifting' Moira
Smith, General Manager Africa & Middle East, Goway Travel What
would drive a man to 'smuggle' rhino horn back into Africa at great
risk to himself? This is just one of the situations Grant Fowlds
has put himself in as part of his ongoing fight against poaching,
in order to prove a link between southern Africa and the illicit,
lucrative trade in rhino horn in Vietnam. Shavings of rhino horn
are sold as a snake-oil 'cure' for colds or impotence, but a
rhino's horn has no magical, medicinal properties. It is for this
that rhinoceroses are being killed at an escalating rate that puts
the survival of the species in jeopardy. This corrupt, illegal war
on wildlife has brought an iconic animal to the brink of
extinction. Growing up on a farm in the Eastern Cape of South
Africa, Grant developed a deep love of nature, turning his back on
hunting to focus on saving wildlife of all kinds and the
environment that sustains both them and us. He is a passionate
conservationist who puts himself on the front line of protecting
rhinos in the wild - right now, against armed poachers; but in the
longer term, too, through his work with schoolchildren, communities
and policymakers. We are most grateful to photographer Gerhard van
der Westhuizen for the use of his stunning photograph on the cover
of the book.
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My review
Thu, 9 Jan 2020 | Review
by: Breakaway R.
Grant Fowlds tells of the hope and the despair of rhino conservation.
Grant Fowlds grew up on Leeuwenbosch, a 2200-hectare farm outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. His love of animals and conservation started here – with a herd of goats. After graduating from Cedara Agricultural College, Grant returned to his family’s farm and became the second largest protein milk producer in South Africa. When drought wiped out the dairy, he and his father realised that if they were to keep the farm they needed to change direction and start game ranching.
Converting their original farm to game ranching/a game lodge meant that adjacent farmland either needed to be purchased or their owners enticed into joining them to create the lodge. Land expropriation had also begun in South Africa and the Fowlds needed to involve the chiefs of all the tribes living in the area to not only participate in the development of Amakhala but become involved through work or setting up auxiliary services to ensure they too would benefit from this project.
Grant Fowlds could have simply carried on developing Amakhala. Fortunately for all wild animals, he chose to take on a far more important role; trying to find lasting solutions to prevent rhinos being poached on an almost daily basis so that their horns could be smuggled to the Far East for people to buy for their twisted ideas that the horn contains “magic potions” to cure everything from impotence to cancer. Poaching is not only about rhino, but all animal inhabitants of reserves.
Grant was invited to join Kingsley Holgate, a partner in the Shakaland Hotel and Zulu Cultural Village complex as a part-time project manager for the complex. He also joined Kingsley in taking Rhino Art to schools throughout Africa and even Vietnam. These visits to school are to educate children, who will hopefully educate their parents to realise that poaching rhino for their horns will not help them out of poverty and hardship, only conservation and tourism will do this.
Thanks to the knowledge he has from converting the family farm into a game lodge, Grant Fowlds has used his knowledge and expertise to help other farmers create private reserves and help the people who live in the surrounding areas to join with them to ensure that they too benefit from the tourism this expansion will bring to their areas.
I can’t find enough words to thank Grant Fowlds and Graham Spence for sharing Grant’s story. I shed many tears in anger reading about the demonic behaviour that the poachers use for killing these ancient beasts, but also much laughter and excitement to hear what is being done to save them.
Everyone should read this book. The more people who understand what nature faces on a daily basis to survive the better. Other books have given us insights into conservation – this book makes you truly sit up and listen.
Rony
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
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