Jabulani has been part of Wildlife ACT since 2022, beginning as a Priority Species Monitor before moving into his current role as Human Wildlife Coexistence Coordinator. With a National Diploma in Nature Conservation and years of experience around Big Five game reserves, he now drives community engagement and conflict mitigation across Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Somkhanda.
Jabulani was born in Clermont, Durban, and grew up dreaming of one day seeing the Big Five in the wild, a dream that led him to study Nature Conservation. He obtained a National Diploma in Nature Conservation from Mangosuthu University of Technology before joining a provincial conservation authority in 2019, based at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
Wanting to spend more time in the field, he found his way to Wildlife ACT, joining in 2022 as a Priority Species Monitor, a role that gave him the chance to help ensure the survival of South Africa’s endangered species.
Jabulani now serves as Human Wildlife Coexistence Coordinator within Wildlife ACT’s Community Conservation Programme, based in Hluhluwe and working across Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Somkhanda. He leads community engagement around human-wildlife conflict, working to promote coexistence between people and wildlife, and manages a team of Community Conservation Monitors who patrol their own communities to detect potential conflict early, enabling a rapid response from park officials.
Outside of work, Jabulani is passionate about nature, enjoys spending time outdoors, and values engaging with diverse communities and cultures and learning new things.
“I am inspired by seeing communities I engage with acknowledge conservation values and support conservation.”