Getting Curious About Rory Young
So I was scrolling on Twitter yesterday when this name Rory Young popped up twice in different conservation posts. Had no clue who he was, but folks kept mentioning him like he’s some big deal in wildlife stuff. Figured it’s a good rabbit hole to dive into since I’m always into real-life heroes.
Starting My Deep-Dive
Grabbed my phone and just typed “Who is Rory Young” straight into Google. Didn’t expect much, but holy cow—tons of news articles and charity pages blew up my screen. Started skimming through the first few links. My hands were flipping fast between tabs while gulping cold coffee.
Unpacking His Journey
Here’s what stuck with me after reading for like 40 minutes straight:
- Young built this wild anti-poaching squad called Chengeta Wildlife in Africa. They don’t just chase bad guys—they train local rangers to handle insane situations.
- The man grew up in Zambia actually touching elephants as a kid. No zoo trips—real wilderness immersion from toddler age.
- He got kidnapped once during a mission. Seriously. Made it out alive and kept doing the work anyway.
That Gut-Punch Moment
Just as I’m scrolling through his conservation awards page, I stumble on the date April 2021. My stomach dropped. Turns out Rory and three others got ambushed by terrorists during fieldwork in Burkina Faso. Didn’t make it out. Sat there staring at my screen for five full minutes—guy saved thousands of animals but went out fighting.
Why This Stuck With Me
Honestly expected another boring NGO founder story. Instead I got this fearless dude who lived on the frontlines teaching villagers to protect their home. Finished my research feeling stupid about complaining about Wi-Fi speeds. Man devoted everything—literally—to what he believed in.