\u2019n Passie vir sy werk en \u2019n liefde vir die natuur het Gibson Mthambo 39 jaar lank, waarvan die meeste as veldwagter, net sy beste laat gee by die Addo-olifant Nasionale Park. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Met sy aftrede verlede week het Gibson nog kort voor sy afskeidsfunksie aan jong mense, wat veldwagters wil word, di\u00e9 raad gegee: \u201cJulle moet nie lui wees nie, julle moet nie lieg nie, julle moet lief wees vir die veld en die diere. As jy nie hou van diere nie, sal jy nie regkom as \u2018n veldwagter nie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nic de Goede, parkhoof van die Addo-olifant Nasionale Park, het Gibson geloof vir sy kennis wat hy deur die jare so vryelik met almal gedeel het.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGibson is in die park gebore. Hy het hier grootgeword en hier begin werk. Dit is jammer om vir s\u00f3 iemand totsiens te s\u00ea. Dit is \u2019n groot slag vir die park. Gibson het jare se kennis opgebou. As jy wou weet het wat het waar gebeur en in watter gedeelte van die park, kon jy enige tyd vir Gibson vra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBaie van die jonger veldwagters het onder Gibson begin werk. Hulle het geleer by een van die bestes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gibson gaan sy dae as afgetredene by familie op Paterson slyt. \u201cMaar as hulle my roep om te kom help soos met wild vang, sal ek kom.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nic, baie dankbaar omdat Gibson \u2019n \u201coproep\u201d ver sal wees, het ook klem gel\u00ea op die waarde van integri-teit by \u2018n veldwagter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOns leef in hongersnoodtye. Alles word duurder en die lewenskostes raak s\u00f3 hoog dat oorlewing moeilik raak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOngelukkig weet die stropers dit ook en dit is hoe hulle veldwagters in hul sakke probeer kry. Dit is maklik om na \u2019n veldwagter te kom en s\u00ea: \u2018S\u00ea net vir my iets, dan gee ek jou R30 000 of ek sal vir jou \u2019n kar koop of ek sal jou skuld by die winkel gaan betaal\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDis hoekom ek s\u00ea, om iemand te kry soos Gibson wat oor die jare so passievol oor bewaring was en sy integriteit gehou het, is ongelooflik.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nic verduidelik integriteit is \u2018n belangrike karaktertrek vir die veldwagter wat met die stroper te doen kry, want benewens die moontlikheid van \u2018n gewapende aanval, is daar ook \u2018n aanval op integriteit wanneer omkoopgeld vir inligting aangebied word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEk dink nie mense besef aldag die hoeveelheid stres waardeur veldwagters, wat soos Gibson passievol is oor bewaring, moet gaan nie,\u201d het Nic bygevoeg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tussen al die gesprekke deur het Nondomiso Brudini, klaar met haar versieringswerk in die saal waar Gibson Thambo se afskeidsfunksie gehou is, tevrede gekyk na die stoel wat deftig in wit en goud oorgetrek is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDit is \u2019n koningstoel!\u201d het sy laggend verduidelik. \u201cHy moet daar sit, want hy was ons almal se liefling. Hy is ons Tata, onse pa. Ek s\u00ea altyd vir die jongeres hulle moet kyk na onse pa want hy het ons mooi maniere geleer en ook gewys hoe om met ander mense te werk.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2019n Passie vir sy werk en \u2019n liefde vir die natuur het Gibson Mthambo 39 jaar lank net sy beste laat gee by 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