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Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible Design 26
3.0 Folder (Inner)
NATURE
Three ways Dingo is flipping the traditional

approach to conservation – with results

nown as South Africa’s ‘Steve Irwin’, Dingo Dinkelman knowledge, Dingo and his team have created captivating
has fast become a household name on the global wildlife videos through the Dingo Dinkelman YouTube
Kconservation platform through daring wildlife videos, channel, gaining millions of views and amassing more than
death-defying escapades and a genuine love for all wildlife. 400 000 followers around the globe.
Dingo supports all conservation efforts worldwide, and he
believes there needs to be a fundamental shift in tactics
right now if there’s any hope of saving the natural world. “Over 75 million people have viewed our videos over the
last three years and the majority of comments we have
“Our traditional methods of conservation – being reserved, received from these viewers are along the lines of ‘I once
scared of making a mistake and generally being slow hated snakes now I respect them’ or ‘I once thought the
to act – are basically drowning in an ocean of online only good snake was a dead one, but now I save them and
streaming chaos,” explains the KZN-based conservationist. don’t kill them’. This is what we’re looking to achieve –
“Simply put, we will not save our animals nor the incredible converting the unconverted. There’s no point adopting an
ecosystems within which they live if we merely sit and approach that caters to those with an affinity for the natural
spectate while they go over the precipice of extinction.” world, we need to be bringing in a whole new audience.”
Since 2017, Dingo and his team have gained a massive 2. CREATING A
international following and generated funds for numerous CONNECTION
conservation efforts in the country. He believes this has “Conservation for me is all about one thing – it’s about
been achieved by adopting various significant strategies. building a connection between animals and people. If you
can get a person to build a meaningful connection with an
1. LEVERAGING ENTERTAINMENT animal, whether it’s through an online experience, a show,
“We live in a fast-paced world where whatever is the or a live encounter, you can basically guarantee the security
loudest, flashiest or most entertaining will get the attention of animals whenever that person is involved going forward,”
of the general public,” explains Dingo. Empowered with this says Dingo.

Image: Kirsty Dinkelman

Image: Kirsty Dinkelman

Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 2 • 2022 33