Celebrating Growth

Posted on Wed August 27, 2025.

This year has been filled with exciting changes at Cango Wildlife Ranch. We have welcomed new team members, celebrated well-deserved promotions, and seen students and casual workers step into permanent positions. Each story reflects dedication, growth, and a deep passion for wildlife and conservation. Our Ranch family has grown stronger than ever.

We are proud to celebrate the following staff members who have taken on new titles and responsibilities in 2025:

Students and Casual Workers Promoted to Permanent Positions

 

  • Montay Arries – Maintenance Assistant (10 March) 
  • Hermanus Ekstraal– Animal Assistant (10 March) *unavailable for a photo
  • Lesley Ann Jelander– Animal Assistant (01 May) 
  • Pippa Fourie – Animal Caregiver (01 June) 
  • Jackie Coltman – Kitchen Assistant (04 June) 
  • Yulan Kuyler – Wildlife Guardian (01 August)
  • Jennifer Barnard – General Cleaner (07 August) 
  • Jonathan Menzies – Wildlife Guardian (15 August)

Staff Promotions 

  • Dedré Rupping – Zoological Manager (01 May) 
  • Navin Winster – Head Wildlife Guardian (01 May)
  • Garrett Eriksen – Academic Programme Coordinator (01 May)
  • Pieter Hall – WAV Manager (01 July)
  • Jacques Coetzee – Assistant Maintenance Manager (28 July)
  • Zizipho Mey – Maintenance Admin Assistant (01 September)
  • Allan Plaatjies – Team Lead Maintenance (01 September) 

New Employees

  • Arno Engelbrecht – Feed Coordinator (09 March) 
  • Mandla Diamond– Maintenance Supervisor (05 May) 
  • Tsepiso Marenene – Assistant Curator of Sustainability (01 September) 
  • Vivian Hendricks – Team Lead Maintenance (01 September) 
  • Lu-Shane Uithaler – Team Lead Maintenance (01 September) 

Each of these individuals plays a vital role in the daily care of our animals, the smooth running of our operations, and the continued success of our conservation and education efforts. Their growth reflects the values we hold dear; dedication, passion, and commitment to making a difference.

To our newly promoted and newly appointed team members, congratulations. We are proud of your achievements and excited to see all that you will accomplish in your new roles.

Further Reading

Third Annual Easter Egg Hunt 4/5 April Fri March 27, 2026

There is a shift in the air this year. You will feel it as you move beneath the tree canopies, where 40 years of conservation have led to this moment. You will hear it first. The sound of excited children moving ahead. Searching. Running. Engaging with nature as it was always meant to be. On 4 and 5 April, we will host our third annual Easter Egg Hunt. This is not only...

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Where Celebration Meets The Wild Fri March 27, 2026

At Cango Wildlife, a children’s party becomes a full day of movement, discovery, and connection. Not a room. Not a routine. A space where energy runs free and curiosity leads the way. From the moment the group arrives, the experience opens up. A guided tour brings the wild closer. Wildlife Guardians share stories, small details, moments that shift how children see the animals around them. It sets the tone. This is not...

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A Quiet Strength, Now Carried Together Fri March 27, 2026

Some people never ask to be seen. They show up. They do the work. They hold things together, quietly and consistently. Aunty Jackie is one of those people. At our facility, every animal eats because of her. Every portion is measured. Every diet is prepared with care. It is precise work. Demanding work. Work that leaves no room for error. And for years, she has carried it with pride, discipline, and a...

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