Conservationist raises R400k for KZN centre

FOUR African conservation heroes have won awards for their efforts to protect wildlife and natural environments at the UK charity Whitley Fund for Nature’s awards.

The Whitley Awards support conservationists from the global south who are leading impactful projects in their home countries. This year it recognised work to safeguard sea turtles (Kenya), southern ground hornbills (South Africa), hooded grebes (Argentina), Lahille’s bottle-nosed dolphins (Brazil), bats (Nigeria), Amur falcons (India) and elephants (Kenya).

The gold award of £100000 (more than R1.9 million) in project funding was awarded to Kenyan conservationist Paula Kahumbu for her outstanding leadership of Africa’s conservation movement and in support of her outstanding work to secure justice for wildlife and citizens in the fight against ivory trafficking and habitat destruction.

Kahumbu said: “I want to see a global shift in the narrative where Africans are the storytellers about African wildlife and assume the lead in efforts to protect it.”

Three other African conservationists were awarded £40 000 (almost R800000) in funding.

They included Lucy Kemp from South Africa for “A community-based approach to conserve the southern ground hornbill”.

Iroro Tanshi from Nigeria was recognised for “Bats from the brink: participatory action to save the shorttailed roundleaf bat”.

Sammy Safari from Kenya was recognised for “transforming the future of sea turtles”.

Since the charity was founded in 1993, it has given £18m in funding to more than 200 conservationists, benefiting wildlife, habitats and communities in more than 80 countries.

The awards ceremony was held virtually on Thursday.

CONSERVATIONIST Graham “Dingo” Dinkelman bought a farm in Cato Ridge this week to build a wildlife conservation centre over the next two years.

To fund the project and build the centre (Dingo’s Animal Kingdom), Dinkelman and his team – comprising friends who accompany him on field trips – have embarked on a “50/50 challenge”, which they hope will be backed by their supporters.

The aim of the challenge was to raise $50000 in 50 days, and things have gone swimmingly thus far.

On just the first day of the challenge (Friday) they raised $29 000 (R400 000).

“The centre is going to be a stateof-the-art facility and a benchmark for wildlife care, so we can help build and nurture relationships between nature and people. Our goal is to educate, inspire and promote everything to do with conservation and nature,” Dinkelman said.

The 38-year-old had a lengthy career as an investment broker before responding to the call of championing nature conservation.

The adventurer’s infectious energy and passion for wildlife made him a well-known face on the local conservation scene, and he also has an international following thanks to his Youtube presence as “Dingo Dinkelman”, which came to life in 2016.

His action-packed posts on Youtube not only give the world ringside seats to him going face-to-face with animals in the wild, but it also helps raise funds for nature conservation.

Handling puff adders, pythons and black mambas, assisting with the de-horning of rhinos, relocating of hyenas and re-homing trafficked pangolins are among his bush exploits.

All of which, he said, would not be possible without the help of his team and support of his wife, Kirsty who also happens to be Dinkelman’s self-appointed safety officer.

“She is a nurturer and has the biggest heart. She also comes along on every adventure to make sure I’m safe and behave, but she also loves animals. I’m actually extremely allergic to snakes, but I love them. They are magnificent creatures that are misunderstood,” he said.

During his time in the corporate environment, he remained connected to nature by shooting short wildlife documentaries, but in 2017 everything changed when Dinkelman and his team entered the Cell C and Blink Pictures #Breakthenet (#BTN) competition.

They shot a one-minute promo featuring Dinkelman catching a crocodile. Five videos and six weeks later, he won the competition.

Now he has a loyal following of about 355 000 subscribers on Youtube, and his footage has amassed over 65 million views.

“Whether it’s raising money for the collaring of a lion, the relocation of hyena to prevent conflict with local farmers, or de-horning rhino at the Zululand Rhino Orphanage, when people donate towards these causes, it’s not just a general concept. With our videos, they get to actually witness the animals they’re helping,” he said.

Dinkelman said as a kid growing up in Pietermaritzburg he realised he had a call to the wild, especially when he explored nature reserves during school holidays and while rehabilitating wildlife at his home.

He said he was heavily influenced by his father, who worked for what was then known as the Natal Parks Board, and which is now known as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

“For me, the important thing is connecting people, especially those without a prior connection to animals. I want to bring these animals into people’s living rooms so they can have their hearts changed. We don’t want people living their lives never interacting with animals. I live a privileged life in that I get to see rhinos up close, see what happens when you push the pad of a lion’s paw, or look into the face of a black mamba when its mouth is gaping in front of you. I’ve got to feel the strength of a crocodile, and hear the sound of a whale popping up right next to me.”