〰️ In Honor of Anton Mzimba & all those risking everything to protect our wildlife
〰️ World Ranger Day July 31, 2022 〰️ Rhino Man 〰️ Paul Thomaz 〰️ In Honor of Anton Mzimba & all those risking everything to protect our wildlife
The theme song for the documentary of the same name @rhinomanthemovie “Rhino Man” is a film made in collaboration with with the GCC @theglobalconservationcorps thanks to Matt Lindenberg, @johnjurko & many others. The artwork image is by Nick Smith, a screen grab from the film, with additional editing by Connor Irwin @softwhiskey
World Ranger Day is marked every year on 31 July to commemorate rangers who were killed or injured while they were in the line of duty & to celebrate the work that they do to protect the natural treasures & cultural heritage of the planet.
Words from Paul Thomaz:
“While the release coincides with World Ranger Day, it will also tragically be the day on which Anton Mzimba’s memorial will be held at the Timbavati Reserve where he served as Head Ranger. For those of you who don’t know about Anton, he has been one of the protagonists in the upcoming documentary.
There has been a plethora of newscoverage surrounding Anton's murder at the hands of one of the poaching syndicates so please look up Anton’s story to learn more. It is all too sad that it takes a tragedy such as this one to highlight the terrible reality of what goes on in the world, day after day. Many Rangers have paid the ultimate price along with thousands of beautiful Rhinos.
My motivation in writing & releasing this song is twofold. First, to highlight & honor the work being undertaken by so few people who have so little. It is their dedication & courage which has helped slow this poaching scourge - but much still needs to be done before Rhinos & other animals can survive extinction. Second, to generate & spread awareness of our collective moral obligation to get involved & be part of the solution.” - Paul Thomaz
Recorded by Michael King & Jeff Yateman @jemmihazeman
RHINO MAN The Movie - PODCAST Ep. 23: Paul Thomaz - RHINO MAN: an anthem for the rangers, and a passion for music.
In this episode, I'm talking with Paul Thomaz Lindenberg. Paul is a singer-songwriter who grew up in South Africa during apartheid. He served in the military and became a part of the band, performing for soldiers deployed to the Border War. He eventually made his way to Italy, where his musical career grew. He performed regularly and recorded songs for Polydor Records, some of which are now being re-released through Underflow Records.
This is a very special conversation, because Paul is the father of Matt Lindenberg, my good friend, and the Founder and Executive Director of the Global Conservation Corps. Paul's newly released song, Rhino Man, was the inspiration for the title of our film and is an ode to the rangers who put their lives on the line to protect the rhinos.
In this chat, we discuss Paul's early days growing up, his relationship with music, his time in the military, and his desire to see the world. We talk about his musical process, and how he became connected to conservation. We dive into the development of the song Rhino Man, and how that name, along with Matt's passion for conservation, sparked a movement. Paul even gives us an acoustic taste of Rhino Man at the end of the episode. So make sure to listen to the end, and then go to Spotify or Apple Music to hear the fully produced release.
This episode is dedicated to the late great legend and friend, ranger Anton Mzimba (1980-2022). Support his Legacy at antonmzimba.com