Charging at Life – A Life in Wildlife Conservation
R395,00
‘A colourful account of the remarkable life of a true wildlife conservationist and Black rhino champion’
– Dr Jo Shaw, CEO of Save the Rhino International
‘Peter Hitchins was a game ranger who left his mark on many parts of Africa through his dedication to research and conservation of the Black rhino. His wide knowledge extended to many other animals and plants, and his energy and love of wild places shines through in this admirable biography, which has been completed by his wife and close friends. Pete’s story is one of a wild, funny and gritty individual who got things done, in whatever capacity he found himself. This is an entertaining, informative story that should inspire young people to follow their dreams, wherever they may lead.’
– Dr John Ledger, Former Director, Endangered Wildlife Trust
One of the unsung heroes of nature conservation in southern Africa, Peter Hitchins was truly someone who charged at life. From his childhood adventures catching snakes and hunting for birds’ eggs in the veld, he developed a passionate interest in and attachment to all forms of wildlife. In the early 1960s, Peter joined the then Natal Parks Board. Working in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi complex, he soon made a name for himself as an unusually observant field ranger.
But it was his innovative work with the black rhinoceros that really singled him out. Conscious of the need for more precise data on rhino populations, Peter pioneered the use of radio telemetry to track rhino movements and numbers. After leaving the Natal Parks Board, he continued to work in conservation throughout southern Africa, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Rhino and Elephant Foundation (REF) and the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa (GRAA). In later life, he embarked on a project to restore the natural environment of Cousine Island in the Seychelles.
Drawing on the detailed field diaries he kept throughout his life, and with contributions from close friends and colleagues, Charging at Life presents a picture of a conservationist devoted to protecting wildlife but sometimes at odds with the prevailing orthodoxy.
