Doc Edge Festival’s standout Rhino Man, powerfully showcases the heroic efforts of South African rangers battling poachers to protect endangered rhinos, highlighting the dire need for global conservation.
Alongside about thirty world premieres presented at the 19th edition of Doc Edge Festival, the Oscar-qualifying international documentary festival of New Zealand has also unearthed unique and impactful works. These are being showcased from June 19 to 30, 2024, to the audience of Ōtautahi Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island. One of the standout discoveries of this year’s program is the Asia Pacific premiere of the feature film Rhino Man, directed by John Jurko II, Matt Lindenberg, and Daniel Roberts.
Produced by the Global Conservation Corps, the film is preceded by a brief on-camera address from Prince William. The Prince of Wales shares his commitment to conservation, the protection of species threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, and the safety of the men and women working daily to protect them.
The film quickly sets the stage: in the 18th century, there were half a million rhinos on the planet; today, there are only 25,000. Many of them roam Kruger National Park and its surroundings in South Africa, where they are targeted by poachers seeking their horns. Poaching is driven by demand from Asia, where rhino horn is used in traditional medicine for its supposed therapeutic effects. On the black market, the price of rhino horn, by weight, rivals that of gold or cocaine. This leads to the brutal killing or maiming of these large animals for just 5 to 10 kilos of horn—a tragic waste on all levels. Poaching thus poses a threat to both the animals and the valiant rangers tasked with protecting them. Rhino Man reveals that anyone who tries to intervene between poachers and their targets faces the threat of these greedy men, who do not hesitate to attack rhino sanctuaries and brutalize their managers and caretakers.
The film strives to celebrate the dedication and indispensable work of the rangers, following a selection camp for a new cohort of rangers. The rigorous physical and psychological tests and challenges are overseen by Ruben de Kock, who has been training field rangers for the Bureau of Natural Resources in KwaZulu-Natal. Forty-one young men begin this intense selection camp, and as the days go by, the group dwindles, shaping the new cohort characterized by their unwavering commitment. While the camp is engaging and dynamic, it also reveals a somewhat expected programmatic aspect. In this regard, the film’s main virtue is to show that behind these rangers lies a steely motivation and a true calling to protect endangered species at any cost. It’s indeed a very difficult, dangerous, exposed, and sensitive job.
However, the film’s most powerful moments come when it shows the confrontation between poachers and rangers. Through several scenes, we understand that the poachers are actually local men driven to these atrocities by poverty. The most striking and powerful scene in the film is a brief moment of confrontation between a group of rangers who have just been targeted by a handful of poachers who opened fire on them. Once the skirmish ends and the poachers are captured, they appear dazed and downcast, admitting that they are blinded by the lure of money. Towards the end of the film, perhaps a bit too late, Rhino Man reemphasizes this point by highlighting the death threats poachers make against rangers and the tragic assassination of Anton Mzimba by a poaching syndicate. Rangers and poachers live in the same villages, grew up together, but chose different paths in life.
As an institutional film, Rhino Man ends with a series of inspirational messages about the necessity of conservation and reconnecting local children with animals. Nonetheless, the film is a significant success, being rich, well-executed, and informative. The tribute to Anton Mzimba is moving and fitting for a man who never gave in to intimidation and threats, making wildlife protection his life’s mission. It’s no surprise that he has posthumously become a symbol of the fight against poaching and for conservation. As director John Jurko II notes in his official director’s statement: “The real focus of the film was to live through the eyes of these unsung heroes. Not only the work they do, but their passion for the job, the deep bonds they form, the challenges and dangers they face, and their struggles to provide for their families.”
In sum, Rhino Man is an eye-opening film that pays a beautiful tribute to the rangers while urgently calling for more efforts to prevent poaching from driving animal species to extinction.
We are thrilled to be covering Doc Edge 2024 on the ground in Christchurch, New Zealand. Explore our exclusive coverage here.
