MBOMBELA – Wayne Lotter died bravely last week fighting for the cause he was most passionate about, the PAMS Foundation.
Lotter started his career in the late 80s as a trail guide in the Kruger National Park. One of his first colleagues, and later a South African wilderness writer, was Christiaan Bakkes.
Bakkes, considered one of the best safari guides in Africa, was representing Wilderness Safaris as concession holders of the Palmwag Conservancy in Northern Namibia at the time.
The men were in contact regulary.
“Wayne Lotter was one of the rare breed of men,” he wrote. His iron resolve, principles and beliefs stood first and foremost above all else. He was never scared to challenge authority where he felt it was wrong. He was a free, unconventional thinker who had no regard for cheap popularity. He wanted to get the job done. I know of no other conservationist who got the job done more effectively than Lotter.
“The high-profile arrests of top-level ivory traffickers in Tanzania were testimony to that. It made him feared and loathed by wildlife crime syndicates.
“It cost him his life. Wayne and I were trail rangers on the Sweni wilderness trail in the Kruger Park for three years. Our shared passion for the wilderness and its wildlife bonded us together. Days spent tracking elephants and facing lions, and revelling in the wild nature around us made us friends. His eccentricities and unique wit would often crack me up in uncontrollable bouts of mirth.
“We parted ways and lost contact for years. The present continental poaching crisis brought us together again. I was proud of his success and wanted to be like him. We met and discussed this. I realised that the old carefree Wayne had crystallised into an unwavering, no-nonsense wildlife crime-fighter. There were no grey areas in his approach. It was either right or wrong.
“Wildlife crime cannot be fought without political will. Ambiguous conservation legislation leaves the door wide open for wildlife crime to flourish. The legal trade feeds the illegal trade.
“Our last encounter was earlier this year on a wooden boat on Lake Malawi, sailing along the shore watching fish eagles swooping down. Our conversation varied from the present crisis to the memories of our youthful days in the veld. It was good. I am glad that I had the opportunity to tell him how proud I was of him. I am glad that our friendship was on a sound unbreakable foundation before he left.
“We maintained weekly contact and he continued to inspire me not to give up. Our last correspondence was two days before he died. Wayne Lotter never deviated from himself.
“Africa has lost one of its greatest and most dedicated conservationists. He was killed by cowards, the same cowards who are plundering our magnificent continent. Wayne Lotter went to another country to make a difference. He made great personal sacrifices. His colleagues and he faced incredible odds against a faceless enemy and succeeded. He disrupted their designs and filled their hearts with fear, so they sent an errand runner to collect the butcher bill.
“Wayne Lotter’s death must not be in vain. He must never be forgotten. He must serve as the example that we must all live by. All of us who dedicated our lives to wildlife conservation. We must do his memory proud. We must not give up.
“Waynie, you were a conservationist we all should aspire to be. If there were more of you, our troubles here would be over. I love you and I mourn with your family and friends. Rest well, my brother.””I salute you.”
