by: Major General (Ret.) Johan Jooste with Tony Park
In 2012, retired South African General Johan Jooste was enlisted to confront the seemingly insurmountable crisis of rhino poaching in Kruger National Park.
With poaching rates soaring, Jooste was given a clear mandate to adopt a military approach, transforming Kruger’s ranger corps into a paramilitary force capable of directly confronting poachers. At 60 years old, a white South African and veteran of the apartheid-era wars, Jooste’s appointment stirred immediate controversy, encountering resistance from members of South African National Parks, the police, and even the military units he once served with.
Under intense scrutiny from the media, government, conservationists, human rights advocates, and the South African public, Jooste faced both internal and external opposition in his mission to reverse the tide of rhino poaching.
Rhino War chronicles how Jooste, grappling with an unprecedented crisis affecting both a national park and an endangered species, took a dispirited team of men and women and transformed them into what is widely regarded as one of Africa’s premier anti-poaching units.
Narrated through Jooste’s perspective and the courageous accounts of rangers risking their lives daily to protect wildlife against a resourceful and determined adversary, this is a story of heroism, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve.
With humility, honesty, and conviction, Jooste shares the triumphs and setbacks of his daring strategy, and his vision for the future.