Loud call of the wild

Words: Tamlyn Head

Q: Your roots lie in the area where the series is set. Did you draw on personal experiences to write the books?

A: Although I was born in Zululand, I grew up in Durban, but the call of the bush was never quiet. We spent the majority of our holidays in Zululand, then I began living and working in rural communities in the area. My family was involved in a Zululand game farm for many years, where a number of rhino were poached. That was my introduction into the world of wildlife crime, and led me down the rabbit hole of researching rhino poaching, social inequality, faith and culture – from academic journals, newspaper articles, and conducting interviews. What I learnt while writing Down at Jika Jika Tavern was far greater than I had ever imagined. An entire world was opened to me that I had previously scant knowledge of. Information from news articles only scratches the surface. Many people living on the periphery of game farms have no access to them, and have never experienced ‘the wild’ like a tourist has.

Q: What prompted you to write this series?

A: It wasn’t on the cards when I first began writing; I was just impressed to have finished one book! But then with a bit of encouragement from readers, I started on The Leopard in the Lala. I had so much material I knew I could still use. Then I came across a news article highlighting the severity of leopard poaching in South Africa. What grabbed my attention was that it wasn’t all doom and gloom; a solution had been found in the form of fake skins, and progress was being made. That’s when I knew the second book would focus on leopard poaching, culture and faith.

Q: Down at Jika Jika Tavern is about rhino poaching while The Leopard in the Lala focuses on the animal skin trade. Will the next books in the series delve into other wildlife crises?

A: Very much so. Rhino poaching will always be a thread throughout the series. The timeframe in which the books are set (2012 onwards) is pivotal in the crisis. The way reserves and organisations reacted was (and continues to be) incredibly interesting …

Q: As director of an education NPO in rural Zululand, what’s your main aim in telling this story?

A: Through my research in the field, it always comes back to education. Children who have no access to wild spaces and wildlife, yet live right next to them, do not become adults who appreciate and understand the need to conserve it. If we want people to conserve natural heritage, they must be included in enjoying it, understanding it, and valuing it. Speaking with people like Nunu Jobe, the barefoot game ranger, many rural schools do not focus on conservation as a career option. Through enviro clubs, children learn about conservation and career opportunities available to them. This is vital – this connection that conservation can also lead to a sustainable livelihood.

Q: What do you hope readers’ biggest takeaway will be from this series?

A: I wanted to write a book that, while acknowledging the terrible realities of poaching in South Africa, would also give insight into the socio-economic factors that force some people into these activities. These factors and resultant circumstances leave people open to exploitation by highly orchestrated criminal syndicates. Of course, there will always be those who are driven by greed and a lack of conscience, but they are well documented in many books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Both books can be ordered via ashlingmccarthy.co.za/explore-books or on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited