Page 14 - IFV_Issue 5_May_2022

Nature

THE QUEST TO SAVE THE NATURAL WORLD

Three ways Dingo is flipping the traditional approach to conservation – with results

“It doesn’t matter how noble or noteworthy your

conservation message is, if nobody is hearing it,

it will make no difference to our natural world.”

– Dingo Dinkelman

nown as South Africa’s ‘Steve Since 2017, Dingo and his team have
Irwin’, Dingo Dinkelman has gained a massive international following
Kfast become a household and generated funds for numerous
name on the global conservation conservation efforts in the country.
platform through daring wildlife videos, He believes this has been achieved by
death-defying escapades and a genuine adopting three strategies.
love for all wildlife. Dingo supports all
conservation efforts worldwide, and he 1. LEVERAGING ENTERTAINMENT
believes there needs to be a fundamental “We live in a fast-paced world where
shift in tactics right now if there’s any whatever is the loudest, flashiest
hope of saving the natural world. or most entertaining will get the
“Our traditional methods of attention of the general public,”
conservation – being reserved, scared of explains Dingo. Empowered with this
making a mistake and generally being knowledge, Dingo and his team have
slow to act are basically drowning in an created captivating wildlife videos
ocean of online streaming chaos,” explains through the Dingo Dinkelman YouTube
the KZN-based conservationist. “Simply channel, gaining millions of views and
put, we will not save our animals nor the amassing more than 400 000 followers
incredible ecosystems within which they around the globe.
live if we merely sit and spectate while “Over 75 million people have viewed
they go over the precipice of extinction.” our videos over the last three years

12 • Issue 5 2022 • The Villager