Killing the Shepherd

Beyond the Film

De: Tom Opre

Narrado por: Tom Opre

Killing the Shepherd: Beyond the Film

Filmmaker Tom Opre spent over three years documenting a remote Zambian community led by a woman chief who took bold action against wildlife poaching to break the cycle of poverty.

For generations, the people lived off the land and partnered with the safari hunting industry, which funded wildlife protection and brought income. But after a hunting ban in 2001–2002, poaching gangs took over. In just 15 years, once-abundant wildlife—including Africa’s Big Five—was decimated. No outfitter would invest in an empty concession. The people faced hopelessness.

Then the chief found Roland Norton, a man with a lifelong dream of running a safari concession. Together, they forged an unusual partnership.

From 2017 to 2020, Opre captured the heartache, complexity, and success of their story.

Killing the Shepherd: Beyond the Film reveals what was left on the cutting room floor—raw, gritty stories of transformation, hope, and a model for helping rural Africa secure its human rights through wildlife conservation.

©2023 Tom Opre (P)2023 Tom Opre

Should Be Required Reading

This book/audiobook should be a part of school curriculums and required reading for students and elected officials hoping to shape fish and wildlife conservation policies. Tom dives into some of the intimate stories behind the making of his successful film - many of which are take-home learning lessons that anyone in the hook and bullet community would learn a great deal from. The pace of this book flows well, so I finished it in about two days. A great must-read!