Prince William posted a heartbreaking, personal message urging more support to be given to wildlife rangers, following the death of Anton Mzimba, a ranger who was killed in South Africa last week.
William posted the following on Twitter: “The heartbreaking news about Anton, who embodied bravery and dedication, serves as a reminder of the daily threat rangers face. The fact that Anton’s family is mourning the loss of a father and a husband serves as a reminder of the human cost.
“The work of a ranger is vital, but it can also be hazardous because they frequently deal with organized crime.
“World Ranger Day fell on last Sunday. While we honor Anton, it is crucial that we offer the proper assistance, generated by organizations like Tusk or our work with United for Wildlife, to ensure that incidents like this don’t occur again.”
The message was signed “W” by William, who serves as the president of United for Wildlife and the royal patron of Tusk.
According to the Twitter thread, Anton “may have been assassinated in his home, and his wife was seriously hurt.” His passing was announced just as Tusk unveiled its Wildlife Ranger Challenge, a multimillion dollar fundraising effort to aid rangers all over Africa.
The thread also emphasized the range of abilities that rangers possess. “On the front lines of conservation, rangers like Anton guard both people and wildlife. They serve in a variety of capacities, including those of educators, caregivers, and researchers, watching out for a vulnerable natural world “read one post.
In another tweet, it was stated that over 1,000 rangers have died in the previous ten years.
Photo: Getty Images
When William learned of Anton’s passing last week, he sent a moving message. As he tweeted: “I was shocked to learn that Anton Mzimba, with whom I spoke in November, had passed away. Rangers like Anton, who are dedicated and courageous, are essential to preserving Africa’s incredible wildlife. The perpetrators must be swiftly brought to account. I’m thinking of his family. W.”
In northeastern South Africa, Anton worked at the Timbavati Private Game Reserve close to the Kruger National Park.
