Aidan Hartley Aidan Hartley

Our farm is a haven for lost souls

We took in Mario as a stick-thin teenager; he now defends Kenya’s elephants from poachers

[Photo: Susan Schmitz / Alamy Stock Photo] 
issue 25 September 2021

Laikipia

He was turned out in a crisp bush ranger’s uniform and handled his assault rifle like a man hardened in the field for years to take on bandits and elephant poachers. ‘Ah Mario, what a pleasure it is to meet you again after all this time,’ I said. His severe military face collapsed into a beaming smile as he snapped to attention and slope-armed his weapon.

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