Taking you behind the frontline of conservation

In the thick of South Africa’s conservation battlefields, far from the comfort of our many visitor centres and game lodges, there’s an intense war being fought against poaching. On the frontline is Howick-born ranger and K9 specialist Nick Duranty (33), whose work spans some of the country’s most high-risk anti-poaching zones.

Duranty has spent more than 15 years working across reserves - including Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands, Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape - supporting ranger teams and training K9. 

“My work takes me wherever I’m needed,” he explains. “Whether that’s helping anti-poaching units on reserves, supporting conservation teams in the field, or assisting the police during operations.”

Partnering with the non-profit organisation, Task Force Rhino, Duranty forms part of a growing network supporting rangers and reserves that are often under-resourced and overstretched. The organisation focuses on providing training, operational support, equipment, and K9 assistance to conservation teams on the ground.

At the heart of Duranty’s work is his partnership with working dogs, a critical asset in modern anti-poaching operations: “I have dogs deployed in different areas across South Africa, but my own personal working dog is K9 Nitus. He is my partner, and we’ve been through a lot together. A good K9 can make an enormous difference in the field.”

Also read: Here’s your chance to spot one of Africa’s rarest predators in KZN

Beyond the tracking

“Anti-poaching is dangerous. We are often dealing with organised crime, armed suspects and illegal wildlife activity. My life is threatened regularly, and that is part of the reality of this job,” Duranty says. 

He notes that the often unseen part of conservation enforcement is the legal processes: “When we are involved in operations, there are also often legal processes that follow. Arrests, statements, evidence, and court proceedings can all form part of the job. It is not just about going into the bush and catching people. Everything has to be done properly, because if a case is not handled correctly, the work done on the ground can be wasted.”

Despite the hard work and risks, Duranty says the motivation remains simple: protecting wildlife and supporting the people on the frontlines.

“Rangers across South Africa are under pressure. Many reserves don’t have the resources they need. My goal is to assist as many teams as possible and help build their capacity.”

Keep updated

For those wanting to follow or support his work, follow:

Instagram: @nick_and_nitus | @taskforcerhino_international

Facebook: @nick.duranty.2025 | @taskforcerhino

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