Ep 23 - Damien Mander - From Special Operations to Conservation Hero

Damien is a very interesting individual with a very unique story.

Firstly, he is not your typical vegan. Damien was an army man - having a military background, he served in Iraq and eventually decided to come to Africa - where he had his life epiphany.

in 2009 Damien decided to liquidate all his financial assets and set forth on a mission of conservation, one which he has dedicated the last 11 years to. He founded the International Anti Poaching Foundation, an organization that focuses on conservation and anti-poaching efforts.  The IAPF is also the first-ever to start an all-female ranger unit called Akashinga. Akashinga's main effort is to attempt to de-escalate dangerous poaching situations (rather than using force) - and they have seen massive success in the last few years.

With Jane Goodall on the advisory board, the IAPF, headed by Damien, has become a real force for good in the areas in which they operate.

During our chat, we discuss Damien's journey from a mischievous lad in Australia, to serious army man, to eventually the role that he holds now - protecting wildlife and conserving the environment in southern Africa. In his sharing of his time in the army, having had a military background myself, I definitely felt a connection and an understanding of what he went through.

I had such a great time talking to Damian, who is currently at the main IAPF headquarters in Zimbabwe.

I'm really grateful to have this opportunity to connect with people from all over the world.

My Take - People change. We are always evolving, and our past/life experiences do not always predicate where we will end up in the world - or the beliefs we will hold which will mold our lives. Having had the epiphany he did, Damien went with it, changed his life, and is now at the forefront of animals and habitat conservation. A truly inspiring story!

 International Anti-Poaching Foundation - https://www.iapf.org/

Damien Manders' Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/damien_mander/

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is roybntz@gmail.com