Making a difference

Local anti-poaching team leader Gaven Holden-Smith (Limpopo Ranger 2003) was instrumental in assisting police in apprehending a group of rhino poachers in the Bela Bela district, Limpopo Province, South Africa last week (late July 2011).

Holden-Smith, who is also a FGASA qualified Level 3 Trails Guide, trains and uses K9 assistants in the ongoing battle against poaching and other crime on game reserves in the area.

This is an excellent example of how basic field guide training can open doors in the conservation industry and how field guides can specialise in expert areas after building up experience through guiding.

Gaven began his guiding career in 2001 when he joined an apprentice guide program at a prominent Big 5 game reserve. After gaining valuable in-house training as a field guide, Gaven qualified with FGASA Level 1 as a start. It is imperative to understand that in Southern Africa, FGASA Level 1 forms the foundation for all guiding levels thereafter. Gaven worked hard as a junior field guide and was always keen to get involved with conservation activities on the reserve. At the same time he furthered his expertise in weapon handling and security services, an area of skill shared with his siblings in those industries.

Gaven completed his FGASA Level 2 practical evaluations through Limpopo Field Guiding Academy in 2004 and added this to his Trails Guide status which he also achieved in that period. After working for several game lodges in South Africa, Gaven secured a position as a wilderness ranger in Zambia in 2005 and continued to build up valuable guiding, tracking and anti-poaching experience. During visits back to SA in this period, Gaven freelanced as a Trails Guide for Limpopo Field Guiding Academy and worked toward his FGASA Level 3 qualification.

Level 3 is a high level qualification and the pinnacle of professional field guiding in Southern Africa. Although there are specialist qualifications beyond it, such as the FGASA SKS categories, Level 3 is the highest level of general field guiding qualifications and the result of years of bush experience, research and study. The level 3 guide has advanced guiding and interpretive skill and is able to interact with guests at the highest level. Gaven achieved the FGASA Level 3 category in 2006.

Gaven returned to South Africa and worked as a senior guide and relief lodge manager at various game reserves in the Limpopo Province while at the same time furthering his experience in security services. The rising trend in poaching incidents from 2007 onwards were a warning of what was to come and this, together with the increase in housebreaking and theft on game reserves during the same period, led to the need for full time security services on most reserves. Gaven was employed full time as an anti-poaching officer at a mainstream game reserve from 2009 onwards. He has continued to impress in his position and has achieved numerous successes in the fight against game reserve criminals.

Gaven is regularly called out, together with his K9's, to assist in tracking perpetrators who have fled the scene of the crime and last week's successful rhino poacher bust can be viewed as a moral victory against the scourge. It is also a great personal victory in one man's relentless battle against poaching in Southern Africa. Gaven Holden-Smith, we salute you. Once a Limpopo Ranger, Always a Limpopo Ranger!