“The Last Ranger” Makes the Oscars Shortlist!
“The Last Ranger” Makes the Oscars Shortlist!
This film, shot in the Eastern Cape at Amakhala Game Reserve and Kariega Game Reserve, is based on true stories of local rhino poaching incidents. It highlights the devastating toll on both humans & wildlife.
Global Conservation Force x The Last Ranger
Our journey with The Last Ranger began when David Lee reached out to Mike Veale to ask if Global Conservation Force (GCF) would help launch the film with a fundraiser. This collaboration aligned with GCF’s education and awareness initiatives as part of its nonprofit mission. The goal was to showcase the rhino poaching crisis and the dedicated, hard work of rangers on the frontlines.
Together with the GCF team in California, the AntiViral Film Project team, David Lee, Darwin Shaw, Will and Marion Hawkes, and several others, we successfully organized a major fundraiser in Los Angeles on July 15th. Just a few months later, Cindy, David, and the entire production crew were in South Africa filming the short film.
During production, GCF acted as expert advisors, providing insights into how rangers work, how poachers operate, and the dynamics of frontline conservation efforts. GCF also loaned ranger patrol gear, technology, and equipment to the film crew. Additionally, GCF Ranger Vuyo served as an on-site content specialist and instructor for the cast. Vuyo trained actress Avumile, who portrayed Khuselwa, in patrol techniques, radio communication, firearms handling, and the intricacies of ranger operations in the bush. This immersive training allowed Avumile to bring her role to life authentically. In the film, viewers will see both “young” and “older” Litha, characters who bear a striking resemblance to GCF Ranger Vuyo, working to protect Thandi the rhino. Thandi is a real-life survivor of a brutal poaching attack in 2012 at Kariega Game Reserve. Fast forward, and the film has garnered global attention, participating in dozens of film festivals and earning numerous accolades and awards. Recently, David Lee and Mike Veale presented at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, rallying further support for the rhino poaching crisis and the film’s push for inclusion in major film festivals. They also raised funds to upgrade the film’s musical score.
By collaborating with The Last Ranger production crew, our partners at Amakhala, Kariega, and Dr. William Fowlds, the film has succeeded in bringing an inspiring and impactful story to audiences worldwide. It educates viewers in a powerful and unique way about the realities of rhino poaching, reaching those who might otherwise never engage with this urgent issue.
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