Exclusive Interview with Zee Guardian of Africa

How did I, Zane Stott – become Zee…Guardian Of Africa?

ShowMe Knysna had the privilege of speaking to Zane Stott, the founder of ‘Zee Guardian of Africa’. Read his inspiring story here…

Zane’s (Zee) story:

Zane – Zee Guardian of Africa

I knew I wanted to help in this fight for the survival of rhinos; a part of me wanted to just leave everything and join an Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), but there is more to do than just that.

This war was bigger than just me and whilst training and joining an APU would help, I realised that I needed to get more people to join the fight and help create awareness worldwide – how was I to do this?

The courses required to do the training and get involved cost money. I was finally blessed with a job at CrossFit Knysna that I thoroughly enjoy and which has helped me bring in funds to put towards my fight against rhino poaching.

Although I was making small steps towards the goal, I pondered over various questions;

How could I use my position and our community to come together (eventually the world community as well, I envisioned Guardians Of America, Asia, Australia etc) and do something about this genocide of our wildlife?

I know what my big picture is but I need help channeling and focusing my ideas and documenting my journey.

Close friends of mine – Colette and Daniel Murphy from Alive Products see the potential and share my desire to help – they donate green clay which helps heal injured rhino.

How did you begin spreading the word, and getting people more aware about your journey?

I started a Facebook page to share my journey and very quickly it became Guardians Of Africa, people close to me began to help, my girlfriend and some close friends have really helped me with GOA, not to support me, but because they too began to understand the importance and seriousness of the cause, it caused the same passion that I possessed to rise within them.

The cause became not only about protecting and safe guarding our wildlife but also inspired our community to become aware of other needs in our community (for example we are involved in an initiative now that will help clothe and keep warm homeless people) I want to protect and guard our heritage as a nation, this is still my end goal.

Currently, the work entailed into reaching the ultimate goal requires me to focus on me and my journey in creating awareness, inspiring others to do the same.

I have an amazing sponsor in Fireforce Tactical Gear and Apparel and it’s founder and owner Gavin Coleman…FFT is really committed to fighting this cause.

I am also working with JP Hilderbrand from BeardWorx, they’re helping me to grow an epic beard and share this cause, because every man should have an epic beard as well as an epic cause :)

I am motivated by this fight, by the fact that if we truly chose to make a stand we could end this scourge.

We need tools to follow through our goals as well as education which is vitally important, unfortunately time is not on our (the rhinos and team) side.

We need teams of boots on the ground while people debate the fate of this species – we plan on doing something about this, prove the negative debate sides wrong. We need to make sure that we are giving those who are willing to risk their lives, everything they need in order to achieve success.

How does one go about being part of boots on the ground?

Well ultimately I would like to raise money to sponsor people through Guardians Of Africa to go and do combat tracking courses and Anti Poaching training or to raise money for equipment.

You could become a Guardian yourself and document your journeys , either doing exactly what I am doing or your own initiative…the place I’d like to do my course is TacTrac in Touwsrivier. If you are keen and want more information contact me via my facebook page!

I think that most people do not truly grasp the severity of the situation and what is worse they feel it is out of their hands. I want people to know that we are able to do something, not only able, but have the responsibility to do something – to turn the statistics around.

It’s easy to forget that in this modern world with bills and other worldly responsibilities that we are the guardians of this planet, not because we are more important but because we as a species are responsible for the demise of a species that has lived on this planet for 40 million years!

What will our children say when they know that we allowed the extinction of a species on our watch? What will we say when they ask what we did about it, and our answer is … nothing!

I know I cannot do this alone, so whilst it’s called Zee Guardian Of Africa, it’s actually all about you, I want you too, to become ‘zee Guardians of Africa’.

I challenge you to become a Guardian too…or help me along my journey as my boots are more than willing to hit the ground and and stamp out this problem, instead of one pair, lets have an army!