Daniel Zuma was raised in a family of five in Kasigau village, Taita Taveta county, where hunting was common, but his narrative earned him recognition from Bill Gates.
His father’s major source of income was cutting down trees for charcoal and poaching wild animals. He would do this to feed his family and meet their needs, such as fee payment.
Zuma’s hamlet was situated between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks and was always at conflict with wildlife that travelled between them.
Growing up, he had a different dream, he wanted to be an engineer or a pilot.
“I always wanted to be a pilot since I was young, but when I learned about conservation I fell in love with it and decided to become a conservation pilot,” he revealed.
Zuma’s idea was given a boost when a community-centered animal conservation firm and the local community developed a wildlife sanctuary to assist community members in finding alternate forms of income.
In 2010, he worked as an Assistant Mechanic for the community-based animal conservation organisation.
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Zuma’s desire for flying got greater as he worked on vehicles, and when a new gyrocopter was purchased for the project, he saw a clear opportunity to fulfil his childhood ambition.
The corporation paid for Zuma’s journey to the United Kingdom (UK), where he underwent gyrocopter pilot instruction.
Zuma began working as an Assistant Mechanic for Wildlife Works in the workshop in 2010, after finishing his education.
His efforts with the conservation organization and his rise to the top gained him acclaim from the American billionaire philanthropist, who profiled him on his personal site Gates Notes.
In a September 2018 blog post, Bill Gates recalls the 28-year-old’s journey from poacher’s son to wildlife conservationist, conserving Africa’s biodiversity.
He returned to his village after completing his training as a gyrocopter conservation pilot and technician, and now flies over dryland forests as part of the Wildlife Works Elephant Protection Trust Air Wing to conserve the trees and wildlife of southern Kenya.
“Looking back, my dream has come true thanks to Wildlife Works. I now want to positively impact the community and my generation for the better,” he opined.
“Thanks to Wildlife Works, the environment is being protected from overgrazing, charcoal burning, and poaching, and the wildlife populations are intact,” he added.
