Interview with a member of an anti-poaching unit - Robert Mhlongo

Dangerous animals and Armed poachers? Anytime.

If you love something, you're prepared to put your own life in danger for it. It's as simple as that, says Robert Mhlongo, officer in charge of the Anti-Poaching Unit of the iMfolozi section of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Working in the frontline of conservation means he regularly must confront the most dangerous animals in the game reserve: armed poachers.

Poaching in South African game reserves happens sometimes for meat but more dangerously for sport. Gangs with vehicles use packs of dogs to hunt as a form of gambling. Poaching is mainly for antelope and warthog, but rhino poaching - particularly for white rhino - is still a threat. "If we hear of rhino poaching gang, we drop everything else and concentrate on that," Robert says.


You can't be thinking - My life's in danger!
To be effective against poachers, you have to be physically and mentally fit, Robert says. "Someone who panics endangers everyone. You can't be thinking - 'My life's in danger!' or 'What will my wife think?' - because then you're not focused on what you have to do."

If possible, the anti-poaching unit will arrest poachers themselves. If not, they call for back-up. In spite of the danger, the policy is minimum force.

Average 17 days a month on patrol
Patrols cover up to 20 kilometres a day on foot. They prefer not to drive, as the vehicle would alert poachers and when driving you can miss valuable information. Robert says, "We walk in silence so that we can listen. The bush is very quiet, and you learn to recognise noises out of place, like a dog barking or a person talking. We also notice unexplained tracks."

Robert spends on average 17 days a month on patrol, sometimes being out for five days at a time. Equipment funded by WWF includes sleeping bags, backpacks, tents and torches. Robert's wife and five children live near the park, so for him the whole area feels like home.