The inspiring story of a young conservationist who has dedicated his life to protecting three rhinos on a farm in Kouga has been shared in a heart-warming book written by Suzanne Janeke, with the book launch expected to take place on July 27 in Jeffreys Bay, and on July 28 in Patensie.
As previously reported by Kouga Express, Janeke, a former Jeffreys Bay resident, said in 2022 she heard “rumours” about a ranger who worked closely with rhinos on a farm in the Kouga region.
Intrigued by what she had heard, she contacted the local farm and arranged to meet Justin Terblanche, who left her mesmerised by his connection with his three female rhinos, Amanda, Tiffany, and Britney.
“Apart from the fact that I love nature and being in nature, I have no personal experience with rhinos, but I soon fell in love with Justin’s three ladies. I was attracted to his story of hope, passion, and courage,” said Janeke.
She said that during their first visit Terblanche shared each rhino’s name, their personalities, and what he had learned about them.
Since Janeke has always been interested in people and their stories, she said she was looking for that one person, that one story waiting to be written.
Finally, when she met Terblanche, a young game ranger with a broad smile and long, braided hair, she was captivated.
“Witnessing the friendship and deep connection between this softly spoken, passionate conservationist and his rhinos, I knew that there was more to his story. On impulse, I asked him if I could write it,” she said.
Janeke and Terblanche spent months on the farm, recording interviews and capturing spectacular footage of his interactions with the rhinos.
“There is so much more to this young eco-warrior’s story. His childhood encounters with animals, fear of the public or any limelight at all, his academic challenges, and his rebellious teenage years, all led to him becoming a qualified anti-poacher,” said Janeke.
“He told me of his darkest hours on night shifts, the devastation of losing a sick rhino, small chinks of hope amid challenges, and the many tears shed along a rocky journey towards becoming a guardian of this ‘crash’, this group of rhinos, whose numbers so dramatically decreased thanks to poaching.”
While gathering his information, Janeke initially began working on a book about Terblanche’s story, and then saw the potential of creating a documentary as well.
The first draft of the Guardian of the Crash documentary was released on World Rhino Day, September 22, 2023, with the final draft expected to be released soon.
Eight months after the release of the documentary, in May, Janeke released her first book with the same title, with Write-On Publishing as the publishers.
“Guardian of the Crash tells the tale of Justin Terblanche, whose extraordinary love for animals resulted in him taking charge of a local farm’s remaining rhinos, a species brutally targeted by poachers and threatened with extinction,” said Janeke.
“My hope is that Justin’s story will encourage us. This brave soul pushed himself towards a bigger pilgrimage, carrying a dream for a better world, in which conservation and the growth of our rhino population become a reality.”
The Guardian of the Crash book launch is expected to take place on July 27, from 10:00 to 14:00, at Moments of Grace bookshop at Equinox Mall in Jeffreys Bay, and from 10:00 to 14:00 on July 28 at Padlangs Country Restaurant in Patensie.
The book can be purchased for R200 at Moments of Grace Bookshop, Padlangs Country Restaurant, or directly from Janeke by emailing guardianofthecrash@gmail.com or suzanne.janeke185@gmail.com.
An additional R79 courier fee will be charged for delivery.
