Letter From Author Bryce Courtenay

I never cease to be amazed at the power of one. Those seemingly impulsive actions that one person, without an organization behind them or money or even power, take on because they care enough to want to make a difference.

Sean Willmore’s personal epiphany came at an international congress of park rangers held in Australia, where he saw quite clearly that throughout the world animals were in mortal danger from poachers, neglect, lack of money, human invasion, deforestation, destruction of habitat, drought and pestilence.

As a ranger he and his colleagues from all over the world suffered all the usual problems; lack of money, resources, numbers, the tools, equipment and research to do their jobs with the care and intelligence needed.

Sean also saw clearly that most of the governments involved were not going to help. Animals don’t vote and have no personal power. On most political agendas they usually appear on the last line as an afterthought and there are very few countries, our own included, where their needs are fully met by caring legislation and the funds to implement it. Politicians are usually only interested in the presence of animals as a commodity, an attraction to bring tourists and therefore financial reward.

Rangers, on the other hand, are usually loners and are seldom influential or powerful people. But without these frontline troops and the quiet and selfless care they bring the animal and natural world, sometimes risking their lives, the wilful destruction of animal life in most countries would be horrendous. In the case of many species, (mountain gorillas in the Congo and Uganda for instance), it would be terminal.

Sean left the conference, sold his car and mortgaged his home, using the money to see what was needed in animal habitat and care here and elsewhere and also to finance a film, “The Thin Green Line. The documentary was in order to tell the story of what he discovered to all of us.

I find that I cannot ignore a man and a vision such as his. People such as Sean are the people among us who truly make the difference, if we don’t support them then we betray an essential aspect of our humanity. Besides, a world without wild creatures is unthinkable.

Bryce Courtenay
Author