“Killing for Profit…ranks as one of the most important works of investigative reporting to come out of the southern Africa region, exposing the greed, corruption and international demand that has decimated one of the area’s most precious resources – its wildlife.”
Ron Nixon, New York Times, writing in Southern African Muckraking (Jacana, 2018)
In print
“A devastating story, born of relentless, thorough investigation…Of all the books and articles I have read on this subject, this is the best.”
Sue Blaine, Business Day, 19 February 2013
Read the review archived link
As posted on killingforprofit.com, 19 February 2013
“This is a devastating story, born of relentless, thorough investigation”, writes Sue Blaine in her review of Killing for Profit.
“Julian Rademeyer spent two years bringing to life this story of corruption, greed and selfish depravity, but also of courage, tradition and honour.
“They are all here, the smugglers, the conservationists, the hedonists, the self-sacrificing. They are exposed by a seasoned investigative journalist with a neat turn of phrase. Rademeyer’s style is pacey and sometimes wry, his curiosity is insatiable and his courage is palpable. Of all the books and articles I have read on this subject, this is the best. It is not easy reading, but for those interested in what is happening to the rhino and why, this is an essential read that may become a reference book for some.”
Read the full review here (archived link)
“This is grand investigative journalism on a scale one seldom sees…Meticulous, devastating and courageous…”
Jacques Pauw, author of Rat Roads, Dances with Devils and The President’s Keepers
Full statement, as posted on killingforprofit.com, 5 April 2014
“I have seldom read any book, fiction or non-fiction, as compelling as Killing for Profit.
“It is a meticulous, devastating and courageous account of the demise of one of Africa’s most prized assets. It rips open one of the world’s most secretive trades; lowly poachers loitering in villages that border national parks, crooked game farmers that barter their prized trophies to horn-hungry hunters, syndicates that bribe officials and use prostitutes to get hunting permits and syndicate bosses in Vietnam and Laos skulking behind high gates from where they plot the annihilation of the world’s last remaining rhinos.
“Killing for Profit could have been fiction; it’s gripping, engaging and poignantly told. Unfortunately, it’s all too real, making it a frightening, sad and at times heart-breaking testimony. If the rhino ultimately survives, it will be amongst others because of people like Julian who ventured into the heart of the trade and held it up for all to see.
“This is grand investigative journalism on a scale one seldom sees.”
Jacques Pauw is an award-winning investigative journalist and bestselling author of Rat Roads, Dances with Devils, Little Ice Cream Boy, Into the Heart of Darkness: Confessions of Apartheid’s Assassins and The President’s Keepers
“An eye-opening glimpse into the world of those who profit from the deaths of the ancient, embattled rhino.”
Yolandi Groenewald, City Press, 20 January 2013
Read the review archived link
As posted on killingforprofit.com, 22 January 2013
Julian Rademeyer is fresh from another wildlife sting operation in west Africa when we meet for coffee in Parkhurst, writes Yolandi Groenewald.
Since the release of his book about rhino poaching, Killing for Profit, he is now very much in the thick of exposing wildlife trafficking’s sordid underbelly.
“Joburg is pretty much the wildlife-trafficking capital of the world,” he says.
An investigative journalist of many years, Rademeyer is used to hanging out with unsavoury characters, such as the notorious Radovan Krejcir, but it was only a few years ago that he stumbled on to the lucrative wildlife-trading market.
Veteran game ranger Ian Player once wrote: “The screams of agony from rhino that have had their horns chopped off while still alive should reach into the hearts of all of us.”
Rademeyer says when he first read those words, he had no idea what Player meant.
“Months later, I heard those terrible dying cries for the first time. They have stayed with me ever since.”
Read the full review and profile piece in City Press… (archived link)
“This is essential reading if you want to truly understand the rhino issue…It reads like a serial murder investigation and yet this is a blow-by-blow account of the underworld of illegal rhino poaching and horn trading.”
Simon Espley, Africa Geographic, 27 December 2012
Read the review archived link
“A vital, frightening book…Rademeyer’s style is deft and immediate; punchy descriptions and pacy present tense pull you right into this shadowy world.”
Alexander Matthews, Wanted
“Dis ’n boek wat verpligte leesstof behoort te wees vir elkeen wat al met verwondering na ’n renoster in die natuur gesit en kyk het.”
“It is a book that should be required reading for everyone who has ever sat and watched a rhino in the wild with wonder.”
Magda Swart, Beeld, January 2013
Review in full, as posted on killingforprofit.com (Afrikaans)
Maak jou gereed vir ’n riller oor wildstropers, wapensmokkelaars, moordenaars, korrupte politici, diplomate, wildboere, jagters, prostitute en ’n klomp uitvaagsels sonder wie die wêreld ’n beter plek sou wees, skryf Magda Swart in Beeld.
Was dit maar ’n storie deur een of ander slim skrywer, sou ’n mens wonder waar hy aan sy ryke verbeelding kom.
Maar nou is dié boeiende boek die eindresultaat van deeglike navorsing deur ’n voormalige joernalis wat hom oor jare al deur en deur bewys het met sy ondersoekende werk.
Elke hoofstuk is aangrypend.
Die gegewe kon maklik lei tot ’n emosionele aanslag, maar die skrywer slaag daarin om te boei deur net die koue feite te gee sonder om die leser te probeer opsweep oor dié emosiebelaaide onderwerp.
By die eerste oogopslag wonder jy wat daar nóg is wat oor renosterstropery gesê kan word.
Die koerante berig byna daagliks oor nog een, drie of sewe renosters wat iewers vir hul horings geskiet is. Jy sou dink jy weet nou omtrent alles.
Rademeyer gaan egter veel verder as dié meedoënlose koerantberigte. Hy gee konteks. Dit is in daardie konteks dat die krag van sy boek lê.
Hy neem die probleem terug na meer as 30 jaar gelede met die Bosoorlog.
Die rol van politici en veral (Suid-Afrikaanse) soldate in die skiet van renosters en olifante vir hul horings en tande tref jou tussen die oë.
Hoewel die hele waarheid oor lede van die Suid-Afrikaanse weermag se betrokkenheid by die smokkel van wapens, ivoor en renosterhorings seker nooit heeltemal oopgevlek sal word nie, is dit duidelik dat daar iewers in die oorlog in Angola geheime gebly het wat tot elke prys bewaar word.
En dit het niks met ’n ideologiese stryd teen die vyand te doen nie.
Soos Rademeyer die storie verder blootlê, kom die besef van hoe groot die probleem is.
Hier is groot geld ter sprake. En terwyl die sindikaatbase in veral Taiwan nie hul lewe hoef te waag nie en bereid is om te betaal, sal daar altyd aan die ander kant iemand wees wat sal help soek na nog ’n renoster om te stroop.
Tsjoemlong Lemtongthai, een van die groot generaals van ’n sindikaat in Viëtnam, is onlangs vir 40 jaar tronk toe gestuur en ’n mens sou hoop dit was ’n gevoelige slag vir die sindikaat.
Maar helaas. Alles dui daarop dat sy baas in die Ooste al klaar gereed is om ’n opvolger na Suid-Afrika te stuur …
Dis ’n boek wat verpligte leesstof behoort te wees vir elkeen wat al met verwondering na ’n renoster in die natuur gesit en kyk het.
Ook vir elkeen wat nog nie daardie voorreg gehad het nie.
’n Mens kan net hoop dat die bemarking in die buiteland so goed is dat elke buitelander ook die boek gaan lees.
“A cracking tale…a meticulously researched book, well written and structured.”
Gill Moodie, Journalism.co.za, November 2012
Read the article archived link
As posted on killingforprofit.com, 27 November 2012
In the latest installment of her Backstory series for Journalism.co.za – entitled “You go nutty sitting in a room every day with a laptop and a bored cat” – Gill Moodie talks to Julian Rademeyer about the writing of Killing for Profit.
“For my money,” she writes, “I think Julian Rademeyer’s Killing for Profit (archived link) about rhino poaching…has a good chance of reaching bestseller status. And not just because so many people find the scourge of rhino poaching so emotive – but because it is also a cracking tale.
“It is a meticulously researched book, well written and structured and goes far beyond the environmental issues. Rademeyer’s book delves into, for instance, the apartheid-era military’s involvement, the role of hunters, mercenaries and organised crime and he evens travels to Vietnam and Laos to find out what exactly is done with rhino horn at the end of the chain.”
Read her article here (archived link).
“What Julian did was absolutely critical.”
An investigator at the South African Revenue Service, quoted by Paul Kvinta in “The Madness of Modern-Day Poaching”, Outside, 16 March 2014
On air
“If you want to read a whodunnit, this is the book for you…Phenomenal.”
Jenny Crwys-Williams, Talk Radio 702, February 2013
“A heartbreakingly brilliant book.”
Gorry Bowes Taylor, Book Choice, Fine Music Radio, December 2012
“A sophisticated…no holds barred read.”
Samm Marshall, Morning Live, SABC 2, December 2012
Awards
“Thoroughly entertaining and rich in detail and context.”
Judges of the Alan Paton Award, shortlist, 2013
“…a transformational piece of investigative journalism.”
Marjan Centre for the Study of Conflict and Conservation, King’s College London, on the Marjan-Marsh Award, 2014 (winner)
More readers’ reviews on Goodreads. Buy the book.
Archived from killingforprofit.com/reviews/ · Archived copy, Wayback Machine