You may be more familiar with the name Damien Mander from his most recent calling – Akashinga** (formally known as the International Anti-Poaching Foundation, now empowering the women of Africa to take roles as rangers on his anti-poaching force (4)) or from his 2023 marriage to American actress Briana Evigan (daughter of actor Greg Evigan of “B.J. and the Bear” fame).
But before all of this there was much hard work out in the trenches of southern Africa spent training teams of men to become his anti-poaching warriors.
The following was one encounter journalist Liam Bartlett of 60 Minutes Australia spent with Australian Damien Mander in his quest to save the wildlife of Africa.
Take a look at the man in the making back then…
Image: Damien Mander (L) with Liam Bartlett, Full Copyright Belongs to 60 Minutes Australia
“Dying is not on me list of things to do today. But, you know, if you ask if I am willing to die for the struggle then the answer is ‘yes.’” – Damien Mander
** “meaning ‘the Brave Ones’ in Zimbabwe’s Shona language” (2)
60 Minutes Australia Journalist Liam Bartlett: “We are always hearing about the desperate plight of Africa’s wildlife, especially the elephants and rhinos that are so cruelly hunted down for their tusks and horns.
For most of us all we can do is sound concerned and maybe hand over a few coins to a wildlife charity. But I have just met an Aussie guy who is actually out there making a difference.”
“Damien Mander is a kind of ‘Conservation Rambo,’ a former Commando who is using his expertise to save Zimbabwe’s big animals.
Now it is the poachers who are finding out what it feels like to be hunted.”
Image: rhino, Full Copyright Belongs to 60 Minutes Australia
“Being this close to a black rhino is a little unsettling and yet an incredible thrill because an encounter like this is increasingly rare. Tragically these remarkable creatures have been hunted to the brink of extinction for their iconic horns.”
“And the poachers would take both horns would they?
Damien Mander: “Yeah”
Liam Bartlett: “The front and back?”
Damien Mander: “Yeah, they will just hack the whole front of
the face off.”
Image: dead rhino poached for its horns, Full Copyright Belongs to 60 Minutes Australia
Liam Bartlett: “Here in Zimbabwe we have joined the front line of a war, a dangerous cat and mouse conflict between the rhino poachers and a dedicated team intent on stopping the slaughter.”
“And in the midst of this battle you will find a true Eco Warrior, Australian Commando Damien Mander.”
Liam Bartlett: Can you really make a difference?’”
Damien Mander: “Mate, we are making a difference and it is fantastic.
Liam Bartlett: “But how do you know that?”
Damien Mander: “Because we have seen the results on the ground. We are getting arrests and we are preserving wildlife.”
Image: Damien Mander (2nd ahead of Liam Bartlett) with his team in training, Full Copyright Belongs to 60 Minutes Australia
“Strike, strike” (anti-poaching team members training)
Liam Bartlett: “Damien has brought years of military expertise to his new mission creating hardcore anti-poaching units. Highly skilled rangers trained in self-defense, tactical response and weapons.”
“(Unintelligible) up ‘bang’, he is down, you are off.” (Damien Mander instructing his anti-poaching team)
Liam Bartlett: “If it looks intimidating it is meant to.”
“Freeze, freeze do not move.”
(Damien Mander training his anti-poaching team)
Liam Bartlett: “Damien is facing an enemy of armed and desperate men prepared to kill for profit, and that includes anyone who stands in their way.”
“Are the poaches you are coming across well armed ?
Damien Mander: “Yeah, the guys we caught here the other week – AK-47s.”
Liam Bartlett: “Really?”
Damien Mander: “Yeah”
Liam Bartlett: “These guys… your blokes are going out with semi-automatic shotguns. Are they enough?”
Damien Mander: “Yeah. “We will see, we will see”
Charlene Hewitt: “When I first met him I thought, ‘oh yeah, this is an Australian’ you
know and I thought ‘yeah, here comes a Rambo’. an African Rambo, an Aussie Rambo
in Africa. And I think we can really… well, I think we need somebody like that.
Somebody who is prepared to get out there…
Liam Bartlett: “and get their hands dirty…”,
Charlene Hewitt: get their hands dirty and get involved.”
Liam Bartlett: “Charlene Hewitt has been fighting for the rhino and all Africa’s wildlife for decades. But times have never been so desperate and that means desperate measures.”
Image: African elephant, Full Copyright Belongs to 60 Minutes Australia
To be continued: The Man in the Making: Leader in Africa’s Anti-Poaching Campaign Featured in an Early Look at His Determined Efforts to Save Endangered Wildlife: Part 2
Images and transcribed from: cc video “’Conservation Rambo’ takes on poachers to protect Africa’s animals | 60 Minutes Australia”, Full Copyright Belongs to 60 Minutes Australia
Sources:
(1) ‘Conservation Rambo’ takes on poachers to protect Africa’s animals | 60 Minutes Australia
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Conservation+Rambo+takes+on+poachers+to+protect+Africa%27s+animals+++Creative+Commons
(2) https://www.akashinga.org/about-us/our-story
(3) https://www.instagram.com/brianaevigan/reel/DAvMc91Of-k/
(4) https://www.akashinga.org/about-us/akashinga-rangers
(5) https://www.akashinga.org/akashinga-leadership-members/damien
(6) https://karmacommunity.karmagroup.com/experience-karma/step-up-star-weds-at-karma-kandara/
(7) https://www.africanelephantjournal.com/anti-poaching-activist-has-saved-huge-populations-of-elephants-and-rhinos-from-being-slaughtered/
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Image: Rhino, Full Copyright Belongs to 60 Minutes Australia