Rangers, Resilience, and Hope with Sibiya Siyabonga | Wild Tomorrow, Part 4

What does it take to protect wildlife when the work is dangerous, the stakes are high, and hope has to be built every single day? In Episode 199 of the Adventures in Learning Podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor continues the Wild Tomorrow series with Assistant Reserve Manager Sibiya Siyabonga for an honest and deeply human conversation about ranger life, anti-poaching work, community trust, and the courage it takes to protect animals that cannot protect themselves.

This is Part 4 in the Wild Tomorrow story, and it follows the earlier episodes with John Steward and Wendy Hapgood, Aphiwe Notshaya, and Kevin Jolliffe. Siya shares how he came to Wild Tomorrow, what he learned as a ranger and firefighter, and why conservation depends not only on fences and patrols but also on relationships, training, and collaboration with the people who live closest to the land.

Listeners will hear about the daily realities of ranger work, including listening posts, ambushes, tracking, teamwork, and the difficult balance between protecting wildlife and understanding the human pressures around poaching. Most of all, this episode is a reminder that conservation is not abstract; it is personal, practical, and often risky work carried out by people who love the land enough to guard it.

As we approach World Ranger Day on July 31, this episode feels especially timely. It’s a chance to honor the men and women who protect natural heritage on the front lines, and to support the Wild Tomorrow fundraiser that helps make their work safer, stronger, and more sustainable.

Chapters

• 00:01 Hope in the sounds of the bush
• 01:18 Meet Sibiya Siyabonga
• 01:53 From firefighting to ranger work
• 03:22 What a ranger does every day
• 05:55 Building trust with community leaders
• 08:59 Creating different paths forward
• 10:02 A recent poaching arrest
• 17:35 Protecting animals that cannot protect themselves
• 18:09 The dangers rangers face
• 23:06 Why poachers take bigger risks
• 25:08 Rangers as conservation’s backbone
• 27:25 What rangers need most
• 31:03 Ranger numbers and team structure
• 33:25 Working with neighboring reserves
• 35:45 Training the next generation of rangers
• 41:07 Why Siya keeps doing this work
• 46:22 What brings Siya hope
• 48:26 Closing and call to action

Key moments

• Siya explains that his job is to protect animals that cannot protect themselves.
• Ranger work includes patrols, listening posts, ambushes, tracking, and hard choices.
• Building trust with communities is part of conservation, not separate from it.
• The reserve depends on collaboration with neighboring properties and shared intelligence.
• Hope comes from nature, from the next generation, and from the chance to make a difference.

Call to action

Download and listen to Episode 199 of Adventures in Learning to hear the full conversation and continue the Wild Tomorrow series. If Siya’s story moved you, please consider supporting the Wild Tomorrow Rangers with a donation and honoring the work of rangers this World Ranger Day season.

Links and resources

• John Steward and Wendy Hapgood: From Boots to a Wildlife Corridor: The Wild Tomorrow Story
• Aphiwe Notshaya: People, Preschoolers, and Planet
• Kevin Jolliffe: Rewilding, Restoration, and Hope
• Learn More About the Wild Tomorrow Rangers
• Donate to Support the Rangers
• Learn more about World Ranger Day

About Sibiya Siyabonga

Sibiya Siyabonga is Assistant Reserve Manager at Wild Tomorrow. Siya joins the reserve from KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife’s Tembe Elephant Park, where he served as an Advance Field Ranger. During his time there, Siya was involved in successful confrontations with poachers. He also holds certificates in firefighting, field training and firearms, and reserve guardianship.

#AdventuresInLearning #WildTomorrow #SibiyaSiyabonga #Siya #Rangers #Conservation #AntiPoaching #WildlifeProtection #CommunityConservation #NatureRestoration #SouthAfrica #EnvironmentalEducation #LearningThroughNature #WonderCuriosityConnection #PodcastEpisode #HopeInTheWild #WorldRangerDay

Transcript

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SPEAKER_03 0:00

But um the something bring me hope it was too more or like each and every time if I wake up early in the morning had the sound of any man voice thinking like if I'm doing the smell if I'm doing the butt wall we had those sounds and the smell of the diamond tree I like that thing a lot because it shows that that the nature how nature is it's fun yeah so very entrusted and I hope one day if or I can say one thing what tomorrow can spend more people life and also provide more or give them a lot of they can give them a lot of weight wonder curiosity connection where will your adventures take you I'm Dr.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

Diane and thank you for joining me on today's episode of Adventures in Learning My name is Sia Bonda Sidia.

SPEAKER_03 1:21

I'm head ranger and assistant reserve manager at what tomorrow. Start joining what tomorrow since 2020. Yeah, 2020 December. It's on the first of 2020 December. Yeah. Yeah. So since from now from 2020 until the date. Yeah. So it's nice to work with what tomorrow, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:46

So what did you do before before you joined Wild Tomorrow? What did you do?

SPEAKER_03 1:53

Okay, thanks to ask that question. Um actually I was a firefighter before it's on 20 2012 and 2013 I was a firefighter. It's who it's worth yeah working on fire, like prescribing big and eat mango the hot shots, yeah, that's the base. It's mango the hot shots. Yeah, then after that to apply for there is a post that was out, it's I think it's it's for white life college. It's including white life college, because it was uh what life actually, yeah, it's white life KZ and What Life that post. Then I applied that on 2015. Then from there, from there I go for training and attending some trainings. I think it was one year training actually at mid-madem, where the Feet Ranger trained there. Then I go back at reserve, my reserve that I was based at, it's them Elephant Park. Then it's when I'm starting to work there on 2016 at them elephant park, and I have five years' experience on anti-poaching units.

SPEAKER_00 3:16

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_03 3:17

Yeah, I was a fit ranger, yeah, and uh also a firefight.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

So tell us a little bit, because I got to follow your rangers when I was over there, and we barely survived our little trip into the bush with them. What is a daily life like for a ranger? What does a ranger do?

SPEAKER_03 3:39

I can explain first what is a fit range. Yeah, I can uh my daily challenge that I'm facing as a ranger is dealing with the threatening, like people are threatening people, people are threatening us with like some of people just not communicating well with us, and they thought maybe protecting the nature is not good actually to us. Because they assume that poaching is uh it's okay to them because they are feeding their children. Sometimes they just taking they're just selling the meats to to buy food to their children, and but they forgot that you have to save and you have to save that nature for the future generation. And even if we harvest, but we have to harvest punctually, not to take all what they we have, actually. Yeah. So because we know that the animals that we're protecting, all the animals that we're protecting does not protect themselves, actually. So we have to look after those animals. We have to take care of them because they don't know even even on under the storm, the big storm, actually, even on the big storm, they don't know how to protect themselves. So what I can I say in full, it's say my job is to protect those who can't protect themselves. Like that's not no matter how hot is a heavy storm or very cold, but I have to protect those animals, extra that we have. That's what we need to do as our ranger. So, like what I can say also my vision as a ranger, my vision, I'm sorry, my vision as a ranger is to concentrate on protecting in the ranger species. And restoration and restoration ecosystem through community and conservation projects. That's what the vision is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

And I know that you and the other rangers, you build strong relationships with the community because, as you said, poaching is complicated. You know, there are people who are poaching because they want to feed their families. And so how do you go about building those relationships to sort of teach what you're doing and to build trust?

SPEAKER_03 6:16

Okay, yeah. Most of the time, sometimes I'm just creating that relationship with a community leader as we went there, just speak to them that if it's better if we can call them, like playing soccer sometimes, because if you are playing soccer, you're trying to create the friendship with other people from community and ask maybe what tomorrow sometimes to provide them with a soccer fridge. Like if we're going to play there, they soccer, they can know each other and they can make us like they can seem as we are a colleague actually. Then they can help us sometimes, even if those people, some of them, they don't ask then how what how the poaching is. Like maybe how to save that merge so they can also maybe help us like informing that someone is coming today, so we have to be aware that there is a people who are doing illegally activities in the reserve. So it's when we're trying to create that uh friendship with the community, and sometimes they we as what tomorrow sometimes we just go and provide them with a parcel or at school, even at school, we just provide the small kids, because if we can stick on the small people like small kids, I think maybe we can save their nature together, because from small one to the bigger one, I think it's better. Because those who those children who are small, if they look at the bad things from the bigger people, then they can learn that this thing is good. So if we try to convince from the small one to the big people, like to the uh the old people, maybe it's we'll be better by doing that. So that's why we're trying to try the friendship. Like we're trying, even if we go outside, like the we we saw them, we're playing with them, we're challenging them to play soccer with them. Sometimes we try to make a friendship. Some of them they're asking, hey, see uh, we are looking for the job. Then I say, okay, if you need a job, actually, you have to be straight. Don't do the bad things. Then they say, okay, but my problem is that now our background is bad. So it's not easy. Then I told them that, yeah, I know that your background is not easy. So, but you have to prove me. Like maybe tell me who's doing the bad things in the community. And you know, I know that you are the one who are doing that. So let me know so that I can know. Also, that I can see that you're changing now. Edward.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

I love that. So you're helping to help people find a different route as well or a new path by asking them to prove themselves.

SPEAKER_03 9:08

Yes, a lot, a lot. And sometimes they're also asking me that uh today we have a game, we have to play here. So can you please come and play with us? Then I sometimes I said, Aisha, I can't go there, because if I come to you, some of people they can enter in the research and say, Oh, don't worry, my friend, we can make sure that all things are secure, it's okay. Like, because most of people they are doing they're doing the illegal activity, like settings more snap, then also sometimes they're banning the the fire, illegal fire, each one. So we have to do LP, like it's a listening post, and also observe post sometimes. And if it's possible, we can also do the ambush. Because sometimes we depending on the response of the poaching pledge, so it's and I understand from Kevin that you actually caught poachers red-handed last week. Yes, yes, yes. And the problem with that, though those two guys, also they were three. Last time they caught Impala at Uguela side. They got to Impala at five, if I'm not mistaken, at Uguela side. Then I saw the tracks that someone is was in the reserve. Then I phoned my informant, the one who is outside. Then they told me that the name of the guys, then he see, please go there and check. Because as I said, we have a people who connected with us. Now we're trying to build our relationship. Then okay. If I called that guy, then they told me that I have to go there, visit that guy's and check. Then I drive there with my guys. Oh, actually, it was nice because that day there was a canine visiting us or went together. Then when I get there, I didn't get enter inside the like inside the family house, like yeah, we'll just be outside. Then showing that it's just a uh I written the letter that I know who are you and why you no, like it's just a question that why you were there. Then I turn back, I reverse the behind, then I go to another shop. There is a shop that is closed. We buy cockprint, then that guy they come to us, which means they respond to us. Then by that time, there is a one who was carrying the bag with Impala meat. Then about that time we try to check them. But then they when they draw the bag is the bag. Then we found that bag. Then I phone the indoor because there is a leadership called Indona that helping the the ship, the um what do you call this thing? The landlord, yeah, yeah. Then I called that man, then he said he's coming. He's responding first, then he came to me. Then about that time we try to phone the guys that were doing this thing. Then we found two, but it was hiding that it was weak there. Thereafter, those two guys are the guys that we found coaching last week. And those two guys I explained to them before I get there, because like I call Indona, then they call another one, because there were three also that's fine. Then I say, okay, they come together, then I asked Indona to open the door. Then don't ask him to open the door because it was on a feminine place. Because we if we there if if we're outside, don't we don't have some more powers. I only the one who have got the powers next, I have an EMI. Yeah, I only one have an EMI. So we we went there, then I asked Indona to help us to tell them to open the door. Then they opened the door. We found the skin down and also the loss of snares. It was there is something snares, if I'm not mistaken. Thereafter, we told them that please don't do snarling, don't do illegal activities. This is our place. So sometimes even you, you are your place, because if someone doing the wrong things, then we can come to. Then you say, okay, no problem. We cannot go there at what tomorrow anymore. Then okay, shaftsha. Then last week we have a new portion that we bought it informality side. So if we call we we they they call us for backup day, but this is our it's also our place. Then the problem is that they said to me, why did it inform us that also this site is your place? Because even if you can explain to us, we didn't come and hand on that site. Then I said, Yo, actually, I don't want you to do any poaching. You have to save those enemies. So we caught them, then the problem is that and I also went with them to the police station. If I get there, because it was uh two guys, the 21 years, 22, two of them, there was 29. Then the the other one that have 24 years, it's trendy. We didn't cut that guy. And those two, to those two 29, the f the other one, it's the first time they get caught to ACPS. So I was very disappointed by the time they reach their fingerprint and other things, because like I am just thinking that one day maybe they can apply. So I feel pain about that things. Right. But because yeah, yeah, but because I told him before, yeah, at least okay, because I told him he cannot say, hey, why he did you you didn't explain to me maybe before because I can stop doing this and this. So at least uh I didn't get more worried about him by doing that. Yeah. So, but we caught him, then we're still looking forward that maybe the case can continue or what. And I try to to find them. And then by that day, after that day, then I went outside. The other guys uh come to me in my clothes. They say, Hey, see ya, hey, you're so clever, my man. Yeah, I know you are totally young party. You're so clever that I said, I know. I didn't, I'm not better about that time. They say, Hey, I know you because last time I stopped them. Yes, because last time I stopped them to go at false pay pack. Because that guy, you was running too much, because from homo to another portion, maybe it's four portions that they pass of reserve, they just jump the fence, go to another one, then they pass again. You is running too much, that price. Yeah, and you're just yeah, so let's hope maybe they can change. Because uh yeah, maybe they can change because they say they are they're looking at the job. Then I say, uh, if you want a job harder, mine to make you my informant because let's start from there to see that you are working hard, you need this job.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:25

Now that makes sense, and you can use the knowledge.

SPEAKER_03 16:28

Yeah. You know, I always have if if if I can because our uh it's not easy to me to employ the people who know that if they come inside here, they can learn everything, what the arrangers doing, the duty at hard time. After that, they can hate us. Because as I said, some of my near people doing the same thing. They just they just recruit the poaching people. They don't know, but I know. Then I go together with them on a meeting, then I told him that hey guy, be worshipped, because these guys are the poaching guys. Then I say, ah, because it's here, I don't think they can do that. But now there is no animals, maybe just a few animals that they have now. Then I asked them that what I said before. So you have to trust. Then I told them that I want to trust you, but you have to prove to me. If you don't do that, okay, I can be informal. Yeah, I don't mind to do that.

SPEAKER_00 17:35

And you're offering security in sort of a way of making a livelihood and being able to feed their children, but in return, you're asking for them to not poach the animals. You're protecting the animals who can't protect themselves.

SPEAKER_03 17:49

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because actually, what will like um the uh the life of rangers? What I can say about the life of rangers, life of rangers are limited safety. Because those animals that we protecting does not know that we are protecting him. Right, so that's dangerous. Yes, some of them they are dangerous. And also those poachers, some of them are dangerous because they're carrying the weapon, some they're carrying the panga, some of them they're carrying the spear and different types of dangerous weapons that they're carrying. So if you're dealing with the poaching, actually, you you it's that's why I can say maybe the life of rangers are inherently dangerous here. So we have to work hard and make sure that you like that job, because even at night you can wake up anytime. If there is a call-up, it seems like it's a call-up, because if you had a gun, you have to go there. Right. You know, like at what tomorrow for now, we don't have any equipment like protecting ourselves. We don't have enough. Because if someone, if you had a gun, we have to respond there. So we cannot respond there if if you don't have. So like the guys, the informant the the guys that they found, those two guys that we caught, they say they saw the guys inside the reserve and was carrying the spear. We don't have a spear. The spear like frame its pig. So you can handle here, maybe you can also throw. Then they can danger ourselves. But we got there because we like the work. Our work, we like the our work. And what I told Mecca is that I say guys, make sure we I know that you didn't carry like the dangerous weapon like to protect yourself. But this is our like this is our place. This is our land. So if the people come here for doing illegal activities, if they saw us, they can run, they can throw everything. So don't worry about anything that they carry. Maybe one day if we have like uh when times goes on like even if maybe we get enough rifle or maybe other things to protect ourselves between maybe we can because like when times goes on, I think maybe we'll see what we can do because when times goes on, maybe also if they open with pinda, sometimes we need to carry that firearm or also even now I see that it's a need to have maybe two or three guns so that if some people inside, not that to shoot them, but just to tell them to drop what they're carrying, because like what's the guy the the the poachers said that's last time the poacher that record they say ish it's nearly cuts the Rangers by the time they come to me because they want to cut me. I don't want to go to to the jail. Right. Then it's proving that because last time, if I'm not mistaken, I remember last time we there was an incident also setting 66 nails at the reserve, at Speaker site near the bridge, at Mfool any site or section, it's our section also. So they were setting 66 nails, they they caught two zip and one nyala. Then we saved one zip, right? The other one and nyala's gone. Then about that time I was doing LP, like doing as we were assuming as we were fishing, some of our guys not wearing uniform, and I was all outside the reserve, climbing over the tree, like doing LP. Then we found it. We saw them getting inside. Then I found Kevin. The problem, our pickup was not closed because K9 was on a meeting. Then the INYAT guys that were helping us at Pinda, it was on a case at police stage. So they didn't respond in the time. Then also Craigy Throne. uh was his phone was I think mine was damaged. So they didn't get enough pick up about the time because that time it was four guys that I saw them was cutting the fence, then they get inside our reserve and I was I was over I was doing the LP up at the time. Then I go with Kevin, then they dropped me, then I jumped to the fence, then the guy starts to run. I know that the people, that the poachers people is not afraid of anything if they saw the police exhibition. Right. Their feet range. It's running then they go through Speaker Bridge and on the water. Straight to the water up the bridge that's right. The big water and that river have got a crocodile hippos the big one. Right. So it's when I say that those people are sometimes they didn't think about their life or maybe family or other things. They're afraid of going to the jail than doing than then dying.

SPEAKER_00 23:06

And they take a bigger risk.

SPEAKER_03 23:08

Then also I also about that day I go to Indona and I report that things that ish I feel ashamed because some of people they can say maybe ish they what tomorrow guys they chasing people getting inside or maybe they can say they're taking people then they throw on inguin or people then they eat them because they don't understand what they help what's happened. Then they say yeah people in around my area is a busy and they don't understand what is the conservation is right. So that's why also asking my management to give us the opportunity also to go to the community like playing soccer like try to make a friendship with people if maybe they saw that some families are suffering maybe that things even if you can buy just a piece of maybe or even if maybe they can buy 25 kg of supermise maybe yeah at least it's better because even if one day if they're doing the wrong things you can ask why because they providing you in terms of giving what you're asking. Yeah and also it's helpful yeah and also we make sure that like if you're recruiting people more people that you look after here just for communities. But the reason why sometimes we didn't like employ more people from the community is that we don't trust them. Because if we close it's easy to it's easy to share information outside whilst we are working like what we have at work like if at work and my manager is not there CR is not there so it's free you can come and do poaching so yeah so I have to actually on the security line you have to to be patient and you have to be a pe we have to work with the people who trust.

SPEAKER_00 25:08

That makes sense and it sounds like you have to sort of be you're a psychologist you're you know not just a conservationist you're really paying attention to all of these different factors that come in you know and we see little bits from where we are you know we see things like the snares and the danger to the animals but what you've shown us is that the rangers are people with families and lives and putting themselves at risk but also you know have community ties and are people normal human beings even though you're superheroes imagine a space where curiosity drives innovation where empathy fuels collaboration and where learning feels less like a task and more like an adventure. My message isn't about adding more to your plate it's about changing how you see the plate entirely. I'm Dr. Diane Jackson Schnorr and through the power of purposeful play I equip leaders, educators and organizations with the tools you need to unlock creative problem solving, deepen human connection and build resistant ecosystems of empathy and innovation. Attendees will walk away not just inspired but empowered with immediately usable strategies to spark curiosity in teams, to lead with empathy and to infuse learning into their everyday cultures. You'll learn how play isn't child's work it's the secret weapon of the world's most effective leaders and change makers. This is not a feel-good talk that's faced by Monday morning, it's a movement a shift in how we engage people solve problems and lead meaningful change. My talks and workshops are shaped by decades of experience in education and a transformative message that connects across sectors. Whether your audience is corporate educational or nonprofit they'll leave ready to rethink what's possible both personally and professionally because when we learn and lead through play we don't just change organizations we change the world check it out at drdianeadventures You know and while tomorrow I know John and Wendy the whole reason they started it initially was to help rangers you know to be able to collect the things that you need and the buying the land sort of grew out of that but the ranger was always at the heart of the movement.

SPEAKER_03 27:41

What are some of the things on your wish list right now that would make it easier to do your job like if I can say we as rangers actually we need more equipment to work with it and we really appreciate like if we saw like a ol management or also all people from New York or overseas helping us buying the land so it shows that we're growing. So it shows that because it shows that we secured the animals very well because we as rangers actually we are the backbone of the camp without us can go anywhere. Yeah because like each and every day we just do the daily boundary we also doing the fence line checking all the fence that it's working no one is getting inside so if no one can do that maybe people can also steal in the fence people can open the fence while like allow animals to go out maybe even in even also the office was not available without us like they can go get inside check taking on laptop and other things that we have here also even the like trees and other things that we're trying to make it more they can destroy everything because like some of people they don't understand what is in nature. So we can start from there. So you have to make the people understand even if you caught people that's why I always tell the people that if someone making a mistake what you you must need to do ask him why they're doing these things. Then after that you'll know exactly good things or the bad things because sometimes there is some situation that makes him to do the bad things you see yeah so we really appreciate for all help like people from different they providing us with some of them they give us uniform different uniform so that we can work nice boots and everything like also maybe the things that they didn't provide us that I see I saw that maybe it can help a lot maybe if we can get a firearm. I think that things will be work too much because just to protect each other's because I can see you can see maybe people cutting with the panga your fri your colleagues but you can't defend him because you didn't carry anything also if they're done with that one they can come to you. So if you have that thing maybe you can stop him don't come to me or maybe stop what you're doing you can yeah so also the trainings that we get we you got a lot of trainings it's up to us because they ask us what training do you want to do so it shows that it's they want us to grow yeah they want us to grow yeah that's what's like it's my adventure actually to like coming at what tomorrow like what I needed to game changer like what they they do to me yeah and how many rangers do you currently have because of the work because we the actually for now I have five rangers but before I have ten rangers because of the work that we have here because we have to cut some trees like like they're on the road so we have a GA now so we're dividing our team actually because it was 10 rangers then we divide our team to make it ease because like we want because like before some of each and every day we just do the battle thereafter if there is extra work that we have to do we have to go together. By the time we're doing that work like maybe renovation of the house or maybe there is a pipe or want to cut the road we open the new road actually so if we open the new road the problem is that by the time we open the road the poachers they then they can come to us about a time because they know that some people they were they're busy like maybe cutting the fence. Maybe they saw us near the fence you are cutting the trees they saw each or rangers are there now. So it is to them to go and poach so like if we're dividing our team some of them doing the feedback some of them doing the poaching but I know that maybe we can still keep recruiting or maybe if we have a time like more house at least maybe if I could get more rangers it would be better. Yeah because I think maybe 10 was enough but because there is other duties that we do that's why we strive to separate them. That makes sense and and also helping and also we're helping because we have the backup from our colleagues or other reserves because I try to build some friendship with also all reserve here that if someone is inside on your reserve call me then I can respond first. Also if I have a problem here I call them to come and join me. Like also a lot even from some of people they can come and help me if I need any help.

SPEAKER_00 33:25

That makes sense and I love the collaboration that you're building with the other reserves too because especially as you're forming a corridor between these parks it makes sense to be working together.

SPEAKER_03 33:36

Yes even at Falls by age they are very happy because like the the people that we caught last week we also inform them that now we're on a land please come and join us the guys are here inside then those people also they jump the fence to them then they saw that wow those people are already coming here even if to even even to us they also doing illegally are the same people because they're wearing the same shoes then so he we're very happy because we caught this guy so hey most people and also those guys are doing like a lot of activities like poaching and they then what they happen like what they're doing they're just carrying the bag wearing the smart then you can see that these people are smart guys maybe they're going to work somewhere then they take out those clothes put on a bag then they take the handing book handing clothes again they wear the another clothes then they go inside then they hang the smart one on the top then when they're done they take the load also the meats on a on a backpack at a back like on a bag then they go to the take a lift to the road they go home. So it's it's better to find them inside than outside because if it's outside sometimes you can lose the tracks even if you have a door because sometimes we're helping with can and you're just trekking back then if it's on the road the if they're taking the lifts you can't get them it's harder yeah so but yeah yeah but according but with my wise then it's when I phone the informant then hey my informer please check for me who have a meet outside who's selling them in and they told me then I got there outside wonderful so if a child wanted to grow up to be a ranger like you see what would they have to do now?

SPEAKER_00 35:40

Like what kinds of things should they do to prepare for a career like yours?

SPEAKER_03 35:45

Like us here at Bad Tomorrow like Craiki it's free to ask that if someone wants to go to learn then you can try to give the opportunity to go to do basic fit ranger then when they come back they can get experience that I have because like I'll show them even if we recruit the people outside the community that have does not have experience. If they come to me I train them then I take him to stay with me in my camp then each and every day if I'm doing the fence line I tell him what we are looking while we are doing this and this and this. So more people are getting trained now I can make example like Sam by the time I came here they told me that they don't know anything and I changed more things because was like also the patrol like we they said they were patrolling at night then I asked him what you see at night if you're patrolling with that day night vision at least if you're patrolling at night you will have information that people maybe they get inside then you can hide the people tracks and other things. So you have to do LP listening scale listen what people maybe you will hear the voice inside dog barking or maybe you will see people passing around you but you have to check which area are bees like here it's because we have two areas you know there is a river and there is a bridge and a bridge so if you do LP you have to do on other side and do on other side then I say that makes sense and I told them that if you don't ambush make sure trap the snap the snail that they were setting the snail actually or maybe just take it there that they cannot cut anything then leave it like that. If the people can come they can they can try to fix by that time it's when because you will say call that area it's when you can wake up and say yay then it's when you can cut so they say I thought level and also there is a my neighbor here at cooling they say before you come here at what tomorrow you more dogs here outside here at conservation also down there at what tomorrow but now it's quiet. Why then I say aye you have to work with people actually try to build their friendship with them then it's easy to you too because if if you're because that thing's like if you're arranged you have to think as a poach because you don't know where they set a snail so think if the people come here what they use because they also ambush us they can also doing the LP outside the reserve checking us the way we patrol okay today no one is patrolling maybe because one of the one of the guys that I caught last time they told me that we ambush you see doing the patron then I saw you you're you're passing this site and then we stay here from two o'clock early in the morning up until 2 pm then I say oh yeah and I say yeah yeah then I saw that oh okay even them they do the same thing with us. Some of them they just cut the um like where I'm coming from at 10 because there is a big fight there. So they cut um the they just cut um a leg of um elephants sometimes they just take an elephant pack then the print elephant print then they hook they hook on um shoes on the shoes then and put also here they just walk then you can assume that oh it's an elephant walking here inside and some of them they just take mantran like mantran sponge then they put on a leg then they walk because if you're walking with that thing you cannot see that someone is getting inside here. Some of them they walk it like it's going back but in front they're going back that like if you see in on a line you can say oh these people already out then you go out and check that side but the people are approaching inside so you have to think and see the how and the tracks that's why I was going I was there at the Kruger National Park to do a tracking course because I go also that's I didn't do the tracking course that's why I get this this to yeah just check that oh okay this guy is tracking them it's like before you find the tracks just think and look and study the tracks that these people weigh there for yeah that wow there's so much you have to know I mean you have to know people you have to know tracking you have to know how to repair how to take down a snare you have to know the animals and how the animals respond.

SPEAKER_00 40:56

You really have to know a little bit of everything and why do you keep doing this?

SPEAKER_03 41:02

You know the job is hard what is it that keeps you going because I like my job it's why I like nature that's for future generation even my child I wish one day my child can do as me even at home even if I'm taking a time home I'm just doing the patrol along my friends at home just checking that no one is coming inside. So exactly what I do here, I also do at home.

SPEAKER_00 41:30

So you're doing the job that you love and is there a particular animal or a particular thing that when you're out doing patrols that you kind of look forward to seeing?

SPEAKER_03 41:41

Is there something that you're still like oh wow that's a giraffe or oh wow that's a zebra or something that just gets you every time yeah actually I like zebra like where the beautiful line different one and come off like nice because even on the predator those lines help the zebra to escape. If it together the predators can look like what is this but they don't understand what's going on it's me also actually doing the same thing. If you see me like like people they don't understand me because like torture sometimes they say actually what who are you because sometimes you just mailing but you can also you can also arrest people whereas you are smile they don't say ah relax if we're awake we are wakey it's like just afraid we are afraid so I'm relaxed it's dependent where I we are so so what I hear is here is a zebra yeah it's a zebra it's a zebra I love that you know what zebra I look it they always big it's a summer or winter all those facts can't change the zebra yeah zebra always is a zebra and last before I like go ahead because before I was like yeah before I like uh Leopard because it's a slight silent element doesn't like to shout or doing anything it's moving slow in the boat but it's fast it was me before like if you touch like my sister or anything at home I write to you fast and make sure that I protect that people yeah even my dad they know that hey don't touch a sister if he knows so you've got the leopard and the zebra yep so about the trainings that I get like most of the time they will train the Cool down now, I know. Okay. Even if maybe someone touch you on the eyes, just wait and say, ah, it's okay, my friend. Even if you saw that maybe someone is doing like it's up or like talking loud, then I told even my guy that if we're outside working outside. So if people come to us, like maybe dreading or doing things, then say, Oh, we are sore, my man, we are sore. But make sure one day, if it's inside, we can remind that oh, if you remember last time, what do you say? Then it's when you can call me outside. But if you're outside, guys, be polite. Know that this is not your home. My home is back at home. So don't forget that the bull or maybe any animal they have a tortoise. If you find me in my tortoise, I can show you how this is my tortoise. Don't don't act, don't do anything outside. Friendship, always friendship. Then if it's back at work, tell him that you see now today, I'm not laughing. This is my work. So I have to work as it is. I have to prove that I'm at work. If I'm outside, yeah, we can share anything. You are my friend if it's outside. Because some of them, some of the potentials say, hey, my friend. Then I say, Ah, okay, can I get the contributor? Okay, come and get. Then I give them, then I relax. But if it's here inside, I told them that you're not my friend if you are here. I'm working now. So you have to respect my work. If you don't respect my work, which means you don't respect me, you want to take my the food off my child, because like if you are doing this thing, the wrong things. Last time I taught the the other, the old guy that if your guys come to my land, like on my reserve, doing the wrong things, what message you send to my manager? It shows that I'm allowed them to come here because you are my friend. No, I can't do that. Can't allow that. If I'm there, uh I'm working, I'm working. Stop doing the bad things.

SPEAKER_00 46:12

Right, no, absolutely. So, last question for today, Sia. What brings you hope? What what's something that still brings you hope?

SPEAKER_03 46:22

It's bringing me hope like here, do I tomorrow?

SPEAKER_01 46:27

Well, work while tomorrow.

SPEAKER_03 46:30

Bring me hope here. Something brings me hope at white tomorrow. It's a lot. I don't know how can I explain. But uh the something bring me hope at what tomorrow, like each and every time if I wake up early in the morning, I heard a sound of animals, voice singing. Like if I'm doing the snare, if I'm doing the patrol, we heard those sounds and the smell of the diamond tree. I like that things a lot because it shows that like the nature, how nature is, it's right.

SPEAKER_01 47:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 47:22

So very interested and I hope one thing if what I can say, one thing, what tomorrow can save more people life and also provide more food, give them a lot of they can give them a lot of work. Yeah. So even if my even my child, actually, yeah, they can got more experience as I get, and I can explain to them that oh one day I was working at what tomorrow. I bring this and this and this and this. So even him, I always, even even him, it's just a small child. But even today, if I call him, they say, Daddy, I want to come to you. I want to work to go and work with you. Because they know that, oh, okay, daddy bring food, daddy like animals, because I try to teach them what they're still small, so that if they grow, they know what they did like and what they like to do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 48:27

I love that. Well, Sia, you bring us hope. And I appreciate you being on the podcast today. For our listeners, if you want to help support the Rangers and you want to help support Wild tomorrow, I'm gonna drop some links in the show notes. I strongly encourage you to take a look at that list and help make it easier for Sia and his company to do their jobs because they are making a critical difference in the lives, not just of the animals, but of the community as well. Sia, thank you for joining us today.

SPEAKER_02 49:01

Okay, thanks very much. I really appreciate I really appreciate the note.

SPEAKER_00 49:08

You've been listening to the Adventures in Learning podcast with your host, Dr. Diane. If you like what you're hearing, please subscribe, download, and let us know what you think, and please tell a friend. If you want the full show notes and the pictures, please go to dr Dianeadventures.com. We look forward to you joining us on our next adventure.