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In Memorium: Gus Mills leaves an indelible mark on carnivore conservation

In Memorium

Gus Mills leaves an indelible mark on carnivore conservation

By Eleanor Momberg

In July 2026, the Endangered Wildlife Trust joined conservationists and researchers worldwide in mourning the death of Dr Gus Mills, a renowned Brown Hyaena, Cheetah and African Wild Dog specialist, and author.

Gus left an indelible mark on carnivore conservation in South Africa, and through a variety of international bodies on which he shared his expertise about nature’s apex predators, including canids and big cats. This included serving as a senior member of the IUCN Carnivore Specialist Groups. He was a former chair of the Hyaena Specialist Group and member of the steering committees of the Cat Specialist Group and the Canid Specialist Group. Gus was the founder of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Carnivore Conservation Group.

Gus’s first introduction to the EWT was when he undertook research in the Kalahari into Brown Hyaena in 1973, the year the EWT was established by South African conservationist and artist, Clive Walker, James Clarke and Neville Anderson. A year later, the EWT funded some equipment for the project run by the then MSc student at the University of Pretoria. This was the EWT’s third sponsorship.

Describing Gus as a “wonderful human being”, Clive Walker, founder of the EWT, said: “He was second researcher the EWT invested in back in the 1970’s and one of the finest who devoted his life to conservation”.

Gus continued his research about Brown Hyaenas and Spotted Hyaenas for 15 years, publishing Kalahari Hyenas: the comparative behavioural ecology of two species in 1990.

In 1996, he was asked by the then Director of the EWT, Dr John Ledger, to form the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Group. This was achieved through a partnership with SANParks which allowed him to work full-time on carnivores while establishing and running the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Group and working for SANParks. Funding for this unique arrangement was provided by the Lewis Foundation.

The EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Unit is today recognised as a leader in lion population research, the metapopulation management of Cheetah and African Wild Dog throughout southern Africa, and addressing threats to carnivores through human-wildlife conflict and the illegal wildlife trade.

During his time at SANParks, Gus researched Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Honey Badgers, Brown Hyena, and lions. He introduced the concept of metapopulation management of wild dogs and with the assistance of the late Pat Fletcher, pulled together numerous agencies and landowners to achieve genetic management of scattered populations through the Wild Dog Advisory Group.

Derek van der Merwe, manager of the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Unit, said: “It is remarkable to reflect on how much has changed since those early days, when Gus would fly over the Kruger National Park in a small EWT aircraft equipped with telemetry equipment, tracking African wild dogs from the air. Those pioneering efforts helped establish many of the approaches that underpin carnivore conservation today”.

Cole du Plessis, project manager in the Carnivore Conservation Unit said: “Long before GPS collars and big datasets, there were people like Gus patiently building our understanding of Africa’s carnivores, one observation at a time. He was also ahead of his time. He encouraged visitors to Kruger National Park to photograph wild dogs and cheetahs because every individual has a unique coat pattern. Those photographs became one of South Africa’s earliest citizen science programmes, and remarkably, that project still contributes to carnivore conservation today”.

Cole believes what made Gus so remarkable was that he fundamentally changed the way we understand Africa’s carnivores. “He wasn’t simply observing animals – he was curious. He spent decades asking and answering the questions that have shaped how we understand Africa’s carnivores today”.

“His work on lions, cheetahs, hyaenas and African wild dogs laid much of the scientific foundation that modern carnivore conservation is built upon. But perhaps just as importantly, Gus had an incredible ability to connect science with the natural world. He showed that good science and a deep appreciation for nature could go hand in hand.” said Cole who believes his greatest impact was how Gus did his science.

“I actually think that may be his greatest legacy. Scientific papers are incredibly important, but they only go so far. Gus invested in people. He mentored students, encouraged young researchers, and inspired countless conservationists through his generosity, humility and willingness to share his knowledge. If you look across Africa today, many of the people leading carnivore conservation were either directly mentored by Gus or influenced by his research. His legacy isn’t just in the knowledge he created—it’s in the people who continue that work every single day” said Cole.

Gus retired from SANParks in 2006 after 40 years of service. Based in the Kalahari, with his wife, Margie, Gus then embarked on a study of Cheetah that saw the publication of A Natural History Guide to the Arid Kalahari in 2014, four years after the release of what remains one of his most memorable books Hyena Nights and Kalahari Days. This book continues to raise awareness about this often misunderstood species.

“Gus was an excellent public speaker and presenter. His talks to EWT members at the Johannesburg Country Club were always ‘full-house’ occasions. His charming personality drew people towards him and his passion for carnivore conservation was admired by many EWT supporters. Some of the latter, like Stuart Bromfield and Norman Stein became generous donors to EWT carnivore projects,” said John Ledger.

Derek described Gus as a quiet, yet immensely influential presence in conservation.

“There are few people whose authenticity, humility, and dedication matched his. His writings, particularly Cry of the Kalahari, captured not only the science of conservation, but also the wonder and privilege of sharing the landscape with Africa’s wildlife. His contributions to the conservation of lions, Cheetahs, African Wild Dogs, and hyaenas extended far beyond the EWT, influencing generations of researchers and practitioners around the world,” he said.

“For those of us who now have the privilege of carrying this work forward, we do so standing on the shoulders of pioneers like Gus. His legacy lives on not only through his extraordinary scientific contributions, but through the countless people he inspired and the conservation programmes he helped set in motion,” said Derek.

Yolan Friedmann, CEO of the EWT, described the immense influence Gus had on her career.

“I had the privilege of getting into the field with Gus as an early-stage career conservationist, and to watch with wonder how he tracked Wild Dogs; I remember with fondness bumping around in the back of bakkies as we tore after these extraordinary carnivores in pursuit of their pray. Gus instilled in me a love for Wild Dogs and I worked with Gus to develop the first project to develop a sustainable Wild Dog population outside of the Kruger National Park through range expansion into KwaZulu-Natal, in the early 2000s. I loved our debates about the philosophical lines between animal welfare and conservation and the role of the individual versus the population. Gus taught me so much and made a lasting impression on my conservation career. His legend will live on in the lives he touched wherever he went,” she said.

Gus will be remembered as was a dedicated conservationist who believed that the youth and local communities had an important role to play in the future of all species. His mark on conservation will always be remembered. His wife Margie worked alongside Gus in the field in the Kalahari, enduring hardships in remote areas and contributing to their joint books in a remarkable partnership that endured for more than half a century. We share the grief of losing of this special man with Margie, their biologist son Michael, daughter Debbie and the grandchildren.

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The EWT Embraces Mandela Day 2026

In the Field:

The EWT Embraces Mandela Day 2026

To honour the memory of Nelson Mandela, members of the Endangered Wildlife Trust pack across South Africa took part in local events, joining hands with stakeholders and communities to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Mandela Day is a call to action for all to reflect on Mandela’s values and principles, and to take meaningful steps to make a positive impact in their own communities. It is a day in which all are called to dedicate 67 minutes of service to their communities.

In the Western Cape, members of the Drylands Strategic Conservation Landscape team joined NGO’s and partners to collect rubbish that had washed down the Olifants River, into the estuary and river mouth in the community of Papendorp (Western Cape). During the recent floods, the estuary received tons of rubbish which the community is slowly trying to remove. This activity marked the end of a 2-day forum aimed at all partners and initiatives operational in the Arid Landscape to promote better understanding of work done and ensuring long-term collaboration in the space. A total of 15 Partners participated in the Forum, and allowed some welcome field time!

Mandela Day volunteers restoring habitat at Johannesburg Zoo.

In Johannesburg, a team from the EWT’s Conservation Campus in Midrand joined Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to roll up their sleeves to remove variety of invasive alien species at the Zoo. Oscar Mohale, the head of the EWT’s Wildlife and Infrastructure Unit, provided those present with information about invasive alien species in South Africa and how these can, and should, be removed. The EWT team joined students from the Sefako Makgatho University and the Vaal University of Technology, as well as children from a number of schools in Gauteng. The presence of the youth added to the energy of a 67-minute initiative to work together to protect biodiversity and create a healthy habitat for the animals and indigenous plants at the Zoo. Among the alien species removed we Bugweed, Lantana, Woolly nightshade. Alianthus altissima (tree-of-heaven), Araujia sericifera (cruel vines), and Cat’s Claw.

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Release of two rehabilitated Vultures at Mokala National Park

In the Field:

Release of two rehabilitated Vultures at Mokala National Park

By Ronelle Visagie, Field Officer in the Birds of Prey Unit

At the end of March 2026 a White-backed Vulture landed at a home in in Keidebees, Upington. The owner of the house, Mike Knoetze, cared for the bird for a couple of days and fed it delicious steak while searching for someone to collect the bird. I was contacted about the bird and drove to Upington to fetch it.

On 22 April Danielle du Toit, Field Officer for the Birds of Prey Unit, was contacted in Graaff-Reinet about a White-backed Vulture that was sitting on the roof of a local church. When it landed on the ground Danielle was there to capture it. She took it to the veterinarian for a check-up and got permission from the local Nature Conservation authorities to transport it to the border of the Northern Cape where I could pick it up.

Both these young vultures were very hungry and had probably got lost from adult birds that could find food for them. When the juvenile vultures cannot find food, they quite often go to people or land at farmyards. If people feed them, they will follow them around and appear to be tame. But, when the juvenile vultures are properly fed and have gained enough weight, their natural wild instinct returns.

After two months of feeding the young vultures as much food as they could eat, they were ready to return to the open skies where they belong. They had become very restless in the aviary and wanted to get out. Before their release back into the wild, both were ringed and fitted with wing tags for identification purposes and so that their flight paths can be monitored.

In early June I drove went to Mokala National Park near Kimberley and released both the vultures at the breeding colony where they could find adult birds to guide them.

Note: If people see tagged vultures, they can report them to Safring or on the email address resightings@ewt.org

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Saluting rangers protecting wildlife and conserving nature

By Eleanor Momberg

As nature’s guardians, most rangers are not only the first line of defence against wildlife crime, but also protectors of a fragile and changing environment.

Working at the forefront of conservation of species and habitats, these passionate individuals often give up valuable personal time to ensure wildlife is protected from criminals, be they poachers or illegal harvesters of threatened plant species. They also spend critical hours removing invasive alien species, burning firebreaks to safeguard infrastructure, assisting with management burns to achieve specific ecological goals, and guiding guests to ensure an absolutely unforgettable visit to nature, among a multitude of other tasks.

On 31 July, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) joined rangers across the globe to mark World Ranger Day; a day on which rangers worldwide remember honour colleagues who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This year’s theme A Legacy of Protection, Courage, and Service recognised that rangers are working in a world defined by climate extremes and biodiversity loss, increasing human-wildlife conflict, organised wildlife crime, and shifting social and political landscapes. Amid these challenges, rangers continue to safeguard the future of our natural world. On the 20^th anniversary of World Ranger Day, the EWT honoured its newly-appointed Threat Protection Rangers and Restoration Rangers, alongside the team of rangers at the Medike Nature Reserve.

While one team of rangers is focused on addressing, and preventing, wildlife crime, their colleagues are focused on improving the habitats in which people, plants and animals, live and prosper.

EWT rangers patrolling protected landscapes to safeguard South Africa's threatened wildlife.

Threat Reduction Rangers

Illegal wildlife-related activities are placing mounting pressure on already vulnerable wildlife populations while simultaneously posing significant security risks to people living and working within affected landscapes.

To mitigate wildlife crime within the Greater Kruger area of Limpopo, the Endangered Wildlife Trust has appointed five Threat Reduction Rangers to reduce illegal wildlife activities. This includes snaring in the Greater Kruger area in northern Limpopo – a buffer zone to the west of the Kruger National Park, and Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.

The team, comprising a head ranger and four rangers, undertake regular patrols, remove snares, record illegal activity, monitor high-risk areas using camera traps and share information with landowners and conservation partners so that threats can be timeously detection and addressed immediately.

Thus Unit helps protect both wildlife and people. By removing snares and reducing illegal activities, endangered animals are saved, healthier ecosystems are supported, and wildlife crime is prevented from spreading into protected areas. At the same time, it improves safety for landowners and local communities through better monitoring, coordination, and a stronger presence on the ground.

In the Greater Kruger area, snaring for bushmeat represents one of the most pervasive and persistent threats. This indiscriminate and illegal hunting method has intensified in recent years, reaching unsustainable levels across southern Africa.

To address this, the EWT’s Threat Reduction Unit now delivers a coordinated, intelligence-driven response across property boundaries in an effort to halt the escalation of snaring, safeguard threatened wildlife populations, ensure human safety and reinforce the integrity of the Greater Kruger conservation system.

The project being undertaken in potentially high-risk areas prioritises community and privately-owned land where enforcement capacity is limited, and thus vulnerable to illegal wildlife activities. The present focus is encourage these landowners and communities to participate in the initiative.

To achieve our conservation goals, we have partnered with the Kevin Richardson Foundation. Soldiers for Wildlife and Van Niekerk Wildlife have provided ranger traising, with additional support being received from the Scales Conservation Fund, Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Foundation and Kendra Carano.

Restoration Rangers working to restore natural habitats and protect biodiversity.

Restoration Rangers

In the heart of the Soutpansberg is a team of Restoration Rangers protecting the landscape and restoring it back to health, one tree at a time.

The EWT’s Restoration Rangers are working to reverse decades of environmental degradation caused by invasive alien plants. Their daily work often includes hiking on steep, inaccessible, remote mountain slopes carrying all their equipment and safety gear up to 8 kg per person. The specialised team focuses on removing invasive trees and plants that threaten one of South Africa’s most biologically diverse landscapes.

The Soutpansberg is recognised as one of the country’s unexplored biodiversity hotspots, supporting an extraordinary diversity of plants and animals, many of which occur nowhere else on Earth. However, invasive alien plants, particularly water-thirsty eucalyptus trees that take up to 260 litres per day, reduce streamflow, outcompete indigenous vegetation, increase wildfire intensity, and degrade vital habitats.

The Restoration Rangers are helping to change this trajectory. Through strategic invasive plant control, follow-up clearing, wetland restoration, road and trail maintenance, and ongoing monitoring, they are restoring ecological processes that allow indigenous ecosystems to recover naturally. Their work contributes to healthier catchments, improved water security, greater resilience to climate change, and stronger habitat connectivity for wildlife.

This team consists of young people from neighbouring communities who receive practical ecological restoration training while gaining valuable work experience and developing skills that contribute to South Africa’s growing restoration economy.

Over the past year alone, the team has removed thousands of invasive plants across priority conservation areas, restored ecologically sensitive wetlands, maintained critical access routes for landowners and conservation partners, and supported collaborative restoration efforts across the Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve. Every invasive tree removed represents more water remaining in the landscape, improved habitat for indigenous species, and another step towards restoring ecosystem health.

As the impacts of climate change intensify, ecological restoration has become one of the most effective nature-based solutions available. Investing in restoration rangers means investing in water security, biodiversity conservation, disaster resilience and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Endangered Wildlife Trust rangers working together to conserve wildlife and restore ecosystems.

Medike Rangers

At the EWT’s Medike Reserve in the Soutpansberg, three rangers and four conservation interns are engaged in work that rangers from de=snaring and anti-poaching patrols, to monitoring, invasive alien species removal, road and accommodation development and maintenance, guest hospitality and guiding.

While many rangers are recognised for protecting wildlife on the frontlines against poaching, this group of conservation champions is quietly restoring ecosystems that sustain both biodiversity and people.

Rangers are the custodians of our natural heritage. Whether protecting endangered wildlife or restoring degraded ecosystems, their work is essential to safeguarding South Africa’s biodiversity and supporting the communities that depend on healthy landscapes.

This World Ranger Day, the EWT celebrates not only the bravery of rangers protecting wildlife but also the determination of those restoring ecosystems from the ground up. Their work reminds us that conservation is about more than protecting what remains – it is about restoring what has been lost and ensuring healthy landscapes for future generations.

The EWT extends its sincere gratitude to its funding partners, landowners, community members and conservation collaborators whose continued support makes this work possible.

Who are the EWT’s Restoration Rangers?

The Restoration Rangers have as their focus habitat restoration in the heart of the Soutpansberg Mountains in Limpopo, there they are working to reverse decades of environmental degradation caused by invasive alien plants. Their daily work often includes hiking on steep, inaccessible, remote mountain slopes carrying all their equipment and safety gear up to 8 kg per person. The specialised team focuses on removing invasive trees and plants that threaten one of South Africa’s most biologically diverse landscapes. Their work contributes to healthier catchments, improved water security, greater resilience to climate change, and stronger habitat connectivity for wildlife.

Richard Ndou is from Elim Varry Village in Limpopo. Speaking to Conservation Matters, Richard said he had chosen a job in restoration to help eliminate invasive alien species from the area around his village. His involvement in the EWT’s habitat restoration initiative in the Soutpansberg has not only benefited his family financially, but also raised awareness within his community about the threats of invasive alien species.

“l chose a restoration job, because all around the Soutpersberg area villages are struggling with water because of alien plants such as massive tall trees like Blue Gums. They are highly intrusive and are disturbing the water table, because it can absorb around 260 litters per day.”

Besides saving water, Richard is also committed to saving wildlife from the “high amount of poaching all over the world”.

Since being employed by the EWT, he has learnt to identify invasive alien plants and how to control these, how to protect wildlife.

“Plants are important for feeding and trees are important for medicine. The importance of restoration saves life because we are also sharing information in the community so that they know more about restoration,” he said.

Willington Mavhandu from Kutama Village joined the Restoration Rangers because of the struggle faced by villages across the Soutpansberg to access water resources limited by alien invasive species.

“These trees are highly water intensive and they are disrupting local water tables…so that is why I chose to be a ranger to save animals and water,” he said. “I learned that animals and plants are very important and have a right to live”.

Willington believes that because of his work and learning, he is able to share information with his community of “the importance of restoration to save life”.

“I believe there is more future for Restoration Rangers as there is a lot of work to be done all around the world. Everyone is impressed with the work we are doing. My family and I are benefitting a lot with support, knowledge and training from EWT and we are willing to work harder and harder,” said Willington.

Michael Sithagathaga is from Khavhambe village. He joined the Soutpansberg Restoration Rangers to learn new skills in conservation and to use his energy to fight things like erosion, bushfires and invasive plants.

“I want to protect our heritage,” he said.

“Since I joining the ranger team, I learnt lot about conservation, how to identify invasive plants, control bushfires, do anti-poaching patrol and also work as team spirit, take care of equipment. My is important because we are protecting the Soutpansberg mountains. This area gives us clean water, fresh air and home for wildlife,” he said.

Michael believes there is a future for Restoration Rangers in South Africa, and around the world. “Yes there is a future. South Africa is dealing with drought, floods and erosion, so restoration of land and rivers is one of the main ways we can fix for next generation”.

His employment by the EWT team, he said, has a number of benefits for him, and his family.

“As a restoration ranger, it has helped my family a lot. I’m able to provide food, pay transport for school and also supply my family with skills and knowledge about how to take care of nature and water,” said Michael.

Sengani Ramalamula also hails from Khavhambe Village and joined the Restoration Rangers because wants to conserve wildlife.

During his time in the ranger unit, he has learnt to “solve problems continuously”.

Sengani believes his new role as a Restoration Ranger is important because it helps rebuild native habitat and “helps support households through community development and land rehabilitation”.

“There is a powerful, essential future for Restoration Rangers because nature always needs repair. Through this project I am able to understand conservation, wildlife and support my family financially,” said Sengani.

The EWT’s Field Rangers at Medike reserve

The Medike Reserve in the Soutpansberg boasts three full-time field rangers and four conservation interns. The team has a variety of responsibilities as field rangers, such as law enforcement & monitoring which includes patrols, snare removal, and anti-poaching, hiking trail support on the Old Salt Trail, veld fire control, invasive alien plant removal and infrastructure maintenance that includes plumbing, building and road revamps. This team also does environment awareness in the local community and among tourists, ensure the accommodation is ready for visitors, interpretive guiding and dealing with guests.

The full-time team are:

Oscar Musevhula is one of the longest serving staff members at Medike. He has been working in the Medike East area for 14 years, and is an active member of the anti-poaching team. Oscar is handy man, he helps the reserve with plumbing and building.

Khathutshelo Mukhumeni has been trained as a law enforcement field ranger. He is also handy man. He has been active in conservation guardianship and law enforcement. He recently developed an interest in field guiding and is supporting our hikes. Khathutshelo is also capacitating conservation interns on anti-poaching, snare removal and the basic skills of field guiding .

Micheal Modimana has been involve in alien plant removals and snare removal. He is the main Kubota TLB driver during roads maintenance. He is also our slackpacked driver during the old Salt Trail.

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Threat Reduction Rangers spring into action to save snared lion

In the field:

Threat Reduction Rangers spring into action to save snared lion

EWT Threat Reduction Rangers assisting a veterinarian during the rescue of a snared male lion.

The EWT’s new Threat Reduction Team in July spent a Friday night assisting with the rescue and treatment of a male lion caught in a snare.

The lion, from one of neighbouring reserves, had been missing for about a week before reserve staff managed to locate him and noticed the severe snare around his neck. The Threat Reduction Team sprung into action and managed to locate the lion. Once darted by a vet, the rescue became a team effort with everyone helping to move the lion to a safe area, hold drips, clean and treat the wound, and assist throughout the procedure.

The snare was extremely serious, and the intervention came just in time. Thanks to the team’s efforts, this magnificent lion will be a whole lot more comfortable and should make a full recovery.

“What makes this even more meaningful is that, after spending the last few days learning about wildlife crime and the devastating impacts of snaring, our new Threat Reduction Team witnessed firsthand why their work matters. Experiences like these leave a lasting impression and reinforce the importance of what we do every day to protect South Africa’s wildlife.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this team. They were professional, observant, eager to help, and genuinely engaged throughout the operation. This is exactly the kind of commitment and teamwork that will make a real difference in tackling wildlife crime,” said Derek van der Merwe, manager of the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Unit.

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