With a personal message, Prince William said goodbye to a murdered ranger at the Timbavati Game Reserve in South Africa. “I am deeply shocked by the assassination of Anton Mzimba,” wrote the British heir to the throne on Twitter. The two exchanged ideas in Great Britain only last year. According to the Daily Mail, William and Mzimba met at a conference at Microsoft’s UK headquarters in Reading to learn more about a chip to be used against ivory smuggling.
William is considered a conservationist who has spent his life fighting against wildlife smuggling. “With their dedication and courage, rangers like Anton are central to preserving Africa’s stunning wildlife,” William said in a tweet. The “W” at the end of the message indicates that the 40-year-old wrote the message himself. He called for those responsible to be held accountable quickly. According to media reports, there have been repeated threats against Mzimba in the past. The 42-year-old was shot dead in front of his house on Tuesday, the perpetrators are on the run.
Those responsible for the game reserve also took an emotional farewell to the head of the rangers, who also headed the anti-poaching department. “Anton Mzimba was a passionate and courageous man. Those who have had the privilege of spending time with him know that he dedicated his life to the cause he believed in: fighting for a species that has no voice of its own. There is no greater man than him,” reads an emotional obituary on the Timbavati Game Reserve’s website. According to this, Mzimba had been employed as a ranger at the reserve for 25 years and also earned the nickname “Rhino Warrior” because of his commitment to protecting the rhinos.”
Sources: Daily Mail, News24, Timbavati Wildlife Reserve