Rhino Man

An informative and dramatic feature-length documentary directed by John Jurko II, Matt Lindenberg and Daniel Roberts and written by Jurko II and Lindenberg. This powerful film has been approved by Prince William and Dr. Jane Goodall.

This feature takes the viewer to South Africa and investigates the tremendous efforts that field rangers make in order to protect the area's wildlife, particularly rhinoceroses. Through interviews with rangers, aspiring rangers and experts in the field of endangered wildlife and dramatic footage, viewers will observe people training to become field rangers at the Southern African Wildlife College, a place that is managed by Ruben De Kock, will learn how rangers risk their lives for the animals and will discover the atrocities that are committed by poachers.

The methodical structure of this documentary effectively reveals the dramatic situation: how poaching is threatening the survival of rhinoceroses and how certain people are determined to stop them. A significant part of this documentary involves the harsh training that forty-one candidates go through with the intention of becoming rangers, staying at the Southern African Wildlife College, being provided with replica rifles and going through intense physical exercises like in an army camp. Following completion of this, they will enter a training course and then be placed in posts in various locations as rangers. While this is happening, the film introduces the activities of other significant locations that deal with the protection of animals, one been the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and the other the Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in KwaZulu-Natal. Seeing the hard work, courage and dedication that people put in in order to protect animals is quite inspiring and admirable. More dramatically, the ruthlessness of poachers plays a vital part in the feature, with the suffering that it causes not just to animals but humans too being dramatically portrayed.

It should be acknowledged that there are distressing scenes that show animals suffering from horrific injuries. As upsetting as they are, they are essential in order to vividly reveal the brutality of poachers and the physical and emotional pain that it causes.

Viewers will have the privilege of being introduced to a variety of individuals who dedicate (and risk) their lives to nobel causes. One would be Ruben De Kock who is mentioned above and his partner, Marianne, programs manager at the Southern African Wildlife College. Others would be Axel Tarifa, the Rhino Orphanage Manager and Kabelo Mmoledi, a Field Ranger Trainer. Martin Mthembu, lead trainer at the College and Anton Mzimba, the Head of Ranger Services sadly passed away and their lives and achievements are honored in this documentary.

By documenting people hoping to become field rangers, rangers doing their duty and the consequences of poaching, this feature explores the goodness and cruelty that can come out of humans. Regarding goodness, themes involving bravery, courage, the will to protect, defying danger and fighting for a cause are acknowledged. As for cruelty, indifference to nature and life itself is pointed out, along with murder and the consequences of loss. The film also works as a commentary about the illegal wildlife trade.

This documentary is a must-see. It can be heartbreaking at times and that is part of its power, revealing the suffering that is caused by evil deeds and the courageous efforts that people make to prevent that. It shows a group of people dedicating their lives to a noble cause, reveals what it takes to become a field ranger and the dangers that this line of work involves. It raises awareness of poaching and brings to the public's attention the achievements of individuals who risk their lives to protect the wildlife.