The slain brother that I had never met.
DARE NOT…mess with us. Daytime patrols were not so bad. At night is when it got dicey.
Thomas Majaah was shot by a poacher seven years ago, just before my first visit to West Africa. The other rangers told me stories about him for hours as we hiked through the jungle at night.
A few weeks back I was finally able to pay proper homage to Thomas, via a letter to his widow.
Emotionally moving as I found his story to be, I was surprised at the intense reaction of his colleagues when I read out my tribute.
Until then, I didn't know that several of them had stayed with the body overnight.
These guys are fucking heroes. They patrol in the dark carrying a rifle from 1940, one bullet, no flashlight and the sheer balls to defend what is right in the world.
Like I said in the my letter (see below), the money I donated was not the real gift. It was this post, you reading it, and the memory of Thomas living on among his brothers that are still out there standing guard.
Park rangers from around the country
Dear Mrs. Majaah,Several years ago I heard the story of your husband Thomas' death, as told by his fellow Mole Park rangers, Robert and Seidu. I have thought about him ever since.Please accept my deepest condolences for this tragedy and the loss to your family.Somewhere in the world today, there is a rich man buying another sports car out of boredom. In another place, a poor villager betrays a friend because he cannot see past his own desperate needs. While many people only think of themselves, there are exceptions as well.From the wealthy to the humble and all of us in between, once in a while there is one girl or boy among the crowd that notices things. He sees the beauty in the world. Maybe it is the colors of a bird or the horns of a beetle, but something catches his attention. This is how it starts for those of us who appreciate the wonder all around us in nature and want to protect it. Thomas was once one of those little boys. Later, as a man, his life was taken for that cause.It is a shame I could not meet him on that first visit of mine, and instead had to hear his sad story. Robert and Seidu told me many tales, as we road-cruised trails at night looking for wildlife.My expertise is on snakes and the park asked me to do some education about them. We captured a black-necked spitting cobra to show the other rangers. The next morning, I demonstrated how to handle this snake. I talked about its behavior, biology and role within the ecosystem. Unfortunately, I made a mistake. I over-estimated its strength, handled it too roughly, and accidentally killed the poor reptile. The snake did not give its life in vain because it went a long way to de-mystify these animals for all who were watching on that day. People in attendance learned a lot. Even its death taught an important lesson about how vulnerable these dangerous snakes can be. However, my mistake still felt like a dishonor to nature.Since then COVID happened, I bought a house, my kids grew up and moved away. All the while I thought of your husband. Now that I have finally come back to Ghana, I am compelled to settle my debt for the harm that I had caused. "But what shall I do?" I could volunteer time to some charity or make a donation to the Ghana Wildlife Division. This didn’t feel right because no one would feel the direct effects of these actions. My "gift" would disappear into oblivion.An account is best settled in like-kind. I needed to find a way to repay my debt of honor, with honor. Then I thought of Thomas.I have decided to send a small donation along to your family, in the care of Mr. Mahama. Please keep my contact details if there is some way I can help your children in future. Thank you for the loss that you bear.While it is plain, thin, paper money that I send, and not technically "honor", this is only the physical form my offering.The real gift that I hope to give is for you and your children to know that Thomas is remembered by people far and wide, from his old colleagues nearby, to Kumasi, to Accra, to the USA, to India and beyond.We thank Thomas. We remember him. We honor him.Much Love,Sergei M. Morris
Thomas’ widow receiving a small donation we collected.
