‘Senior ranger’ opportunity awaits Martin In Ireland
He also offered the local community a free snake removal service.
Martin Rodrigues, a familiar face on the South Coast and the outgoing centre manager of Crocworld Conservation Centre, has recently taken on a position as a senior ranger at Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland.
While there might not be as many snakes in Ireland, he is excited about his new adventure abroad and took time to reflect on the nine years he spent as Crocworld’s centre manager.
Back in April 2011, Martin was appointed as the conservation centre’s manager, at the tender age of 26.
Aside from interacting with local wildlife, Martin was fortunate enough to work with bull sharks and crocodiles, filmed by National Geographic.
Over the years he has teamed up and worked with numerous other conservation-focused organisations, such as KZN Wildlife.
A highlight was capturing a crocodile on the South Coast River and relocating it to St Lucia.
The rescue of a green turtle and its safe release to uShaka Marine World was also a high point.
Martin and his team have also rehabilitated and relocated several birds of prey with the help of CROW (Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) and FreeMe Wildlife.
During his term of office, he held monthly conservation talks and hosted a variety of events, including the annual Halloween bash.
During lockdown, he and his team continued conservation talks online.
He also offered the local community a free snake removal service.
This kept him busy and he has responded to hundreds of callouts and captured about 50 mambas.
“It’s been a wonderful experience and it’s really never been a job for me, but rather a part of me,” he said.
“To have been a custodian of the animals in our care, and to educate people about wildlife has been fantastic. We have an amazing team which I am sure will continue the great work of saving and protecting our animals.”
The centre’s reptile curator, James Wittstock, will take on the position of acting centre manager.
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