Hi Fly, in collaboration with its principal sustainability partner, the Mirpuri Foundation, hosted an exclusive wildlife conservation session with Matt Lindenberg, a renowned conservationist and documentary filmmaker. The session, part of the ongoing Taskforce initiatives of United for Wildlife, took place on March 12 at Hi Fly’s headquarters in Lisbon, Portugal.
The event brought employees together to learn about protecting endangered species, the threats of poaching and wildlife crime, and the vital role of rangers in wildlife conservation. Since becoming a supporting member of United for Wildlife in 2019, Hi Fly, alongside the Mirpuri Foundation, has been actively involved in combating the illegal trade in wildlife products, while raising awareness about its devastating effects on ecosystems and communities.
Matt Lindenberg, founder and executive director of the Global Conservation Corps (GCC), has dedicated his career to connecting communities living near wildlife areas with conservation efforts and giving a voice to rangers—the backbone of wildlife conservation—who safeguard habitats and ensure a sustainable future for all species.
During the session, Lindenberg paid tribute to his late mentor, Martin Mthembu, a highly respected ranger who devoted his life to wildlife conservation and trained over 15,000 rangers across Africa. After Mthembu’s passing in 2014, Lindenberg continued his mentor’s legacy, leading to the founding of GCC and the creation of the documentary Rhino Man.
Rhino Man is a powerful and emotional story about wildlife rangers who risk their lives to protect rhinos from poaching in South Africa. The documentary follows Anton Mzimba, a dedicated ranger who spent his life safeguarding rhinos before being tragically murdered. It highlights the dangers faced by rangers on the front lines of conservation.
“Although Anton is no longer with us, it’s up to all of us to carry his legacy forward. Seeing the Mirpuri Foundation and Hi Fly staff rally behind the voices of rangers and conservation gives me hope that Anton’s mission will endure. We all have a part to play in protecting our world’s precious biodiversity, and you don’t have to be a ranger on the front lines to make a real difference. Anton always said that rangers are buying us time. It’s what we do with that time that counts,” remarked Matt.
The session also provided insights into the critical threats facing rhino populations and the global efforts needed to combat poaching, which is the third largest global criminal activity.
By hosting this event, Hi Fly reaffirmed its commitment to raising awareness among its employees and strengthening its ongoing role in the global fight against wildlife trafficking, advocating for stronger protection of this critical issue.
About Matt Lindenberg
Matt Lindenberg is the Founder and Executive Director of the Global Conservation Corps (GCC), an international nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between people and wildlife. GCC’s Future Rangers Program reaches over 2,300 youth near Kruger Park every week through activities, game drives, and leadership development. Since 2017, the program has impacted over 15,000 students directly, with an additional 40,000 students reached through GCC’s Careers in Conservation YouTube series. To support these programs, Matt and his team developed Vumba, a revolutionary education delivery platform that enables individual student tracking, curriculum sharing, and long-term impact reporting across six conservation partners, currently reaching over 8,000 students. Vumba is set to scale beyond South Africa and will soon be piloted in the DRC, Rwanda, and Zambia.
Matt holds a BSc in Geography and Zoology from the University of South Africa and an MSc in Biology from Grand Valley State University, Michigan. He is a sought-after public speaker, having addressed audiences such as His Royal Highness Prince William, government departments, banking executives, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and universities worldwide. His passions include aviation, mountaineering, scuba diving, and bird watching.
About United for Wildlife
Founded by The Royal Foundation and Prince William in 2013, United for Wildlife is a groundbreaking global alliance of governments, law enforcement agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations. The initiative works to disrupt and prevent the illegal wildlife trade by raising awareness, sharing information across sectors and nations, and targeting the criminal networks that profit from these destructive practices.
