Wesley Gold

"Wesley served 10 years in the British Army, Royal Regiment of Scotland. This included operational tours to Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as two years as an instructor at the prestigious Infantry Training Center in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. Following his army career, Wesley went on to work in Anti-Piracy Operations on the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, as well as provide close protection and compound security to a European Union Diplomatic Mission in Kabul, Afghanistan.

"Born in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Wesley spent a large portion of his upbringing in the bush where he developed a passion for protecting Africa’s natural resources. His grandfather, a renowned Lepidopterist, and father, a policeman, worked to combat rhino and ivory smuggling, which piqued his interest in wildlife conservation from a young age.

"Having joined the Grumeti Fund in 2016 Wesley has completed a multitude of courses. His medical training includes a BTEC First Person on the Scene (Intermediary) Medic, as well as an Operational and Specialist Remote Trauma Practitioner course, endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. His military training includes Skill at Arms Weapons & Infantry Tactics Instructor, BTEC (Level 2) Team Leadership and several other courses through the British Army. Beyond the army his training includes courses in Close Protection, Counter Piracy, Law Enforcement Compliance, Control and Conflict Management. He is busy completing a certificate in Terrorism Studies through the University of St Andrews.

"New to the Grumeti Fund team in 2016, Wesley is committed to training a para-military style scout force, which will be equipped and prepared for any eventuality. His vision includes the release of rhino into the wider reserve and ensuring that the law enforcement department has created a secure environment in which all animals can live safely across the concessions."

"He’s a former British military with deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as experience working in some of the harshest, nonpermissive environments possible. I was walked through Grumeti’s operations center, and without getting into too much detail that could compromise their operations, what they are running is not unlike a counterinsurgency operation that would be conducted in a war zone." [1]

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