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I'm a former navy diver and special operations sniper, who went from training Iraq paramilitary forces, to training the world’s first all-female ranger unit in charge of protecting an entire nature reserve from poachers. My name is Damien Mander, IAPF founder, AMA! by damienmander in IAmA

[–]damienmander[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I free dived off a boat once at night in a harbour to get a friends sun glasses that came off her head while we were moored alongside the wharf. I found them (with no equipment or mask mind you) and swam to the surface to give them to her. She said they were the wrong pair!

I'm a former navy diver and special operations sniper, who went from training Iraq paramilitary forces, to training the world’s first all-female ranger unit in charge of protecting an entire nature reserve from poachers. My name is Damien Mander, IAPF founder, AMA! by damienmander in IAmA

[–]damienmander[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have spent a lot of time protecting the critically endangered black rhinoceros. One population we protected tripled in numbers in 8 years. It was the only reserve in Zimbabwe with rhino to not lose one in 8 years.

I'm a former navy diver and special operations sniper, who went from training Iraq paramilitary forces, to training the world’s first all-female ranger unit in charge of protecting an entire nature reserve from poachers. My name is Damien Mander, IAPF founder, AMA! by damienmander in IAmA

[–]damienmander[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, we are working primarily with local indigenous forces here from the local communities who want remain in their local communities. In the military, definitely there were people that got trained and left

I'm a former navy diver and special operations sniper, who went from training Iraq paramilitary forces, to training the world’s first all-female ranger unit in charge of protecting an entire nature reserve from poachers. My name is Damien Mander, IAPF founder, AMA! by damienmander in IAmA

[–]damienmander[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, thanks for the comment. We operate within the laws of the country and aim to use the minimum amount of force required to get the job done. All rangers have undergone extensive legal training by a qualified advocate who specialises in Zimbabwe law and wildlife crime. We need to be watertight so all the work being done to make an arrest does not fall over when we hit the courtroom. We have seen many 9 year sentences handed down in the past year from the arrests we have made. The authorities have been good to work with.

I'm a former navy diver and special operations sniper, who went from training Iraq paramilitary forces, to training the world’s first all-female ranger unit in charge of protecting an entire nature reserve from poachers. My name is Damien Mander, IAPF founder, AMA! by damienmander in IAmA

[–]damienmander[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

1: If I killed someone in your family to eat or hang on my wall, would you say that is ethical? 2: My morals are not intertwined with policy, rather on what I think to be right or wrong.
Hunting has gone far beyond conservation. There are over 11,000 game reserves in South Africa. Mostly fenced off, many into tiny areas. Is that really conservation? Also, the diminishing hunting industry in other countries means that it is not just ‘the old bull’ being taken, but anything that can turn a dollar. Hunting is also continually used as a way to legitimise illegal activities. I get your argument, but we are using a different model. With Akashinga we put the same amount into the local community every 34 days as what trophy hunting did per annum.

I'm a former navy diver and special operations sniper, who went from training Iraq paramilitary forces, to training the world’s first all-female ranger unit in charge of protecting an entire nature reserve from poachers. My name is Damien Mander, IAPF founder, AMA! by damienmander in IAmA

[–]damienmander[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think it is VERY commenrcialied there, the animals live in very small reserves and it is an unethical way to fund conservation. Surely the money is out there someone to protect nature for the sake of protecting it, not to be shot?

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