Conservationist couple the Jouberts bringing tales of adventure to Calgary

They've devoted their lives to preserving African wildlife. Ian White speaks with Beverly and Dereck Joubert.

Conservationist and filmmaker Dereck Joubert admits he’s seen more than his fair share of danger in the four decades he and his wife, Beverly, have worked in Southern Africa.

“I’ve crashed three airplanes, I’ve been stung by 21 scorpions, bitten by three deadly snakes who apparently weren’t as deadly as they thought they were, had malaria 20 times, three buffalo attacks and four elephant attacks. But other than that, it’s fine, and you should come out on safari with us,” Dereck jokes.

One of those buffalo attacks in 2017 was especially dangerous for Beverly.

“We heard three snorts, and then he collided with us. He sent Dereck flying, and then he impaled me,” Beverly told CTV News.

“He knocked me out in the beginning, and I woke up on his horns as he was galloping off.”

With Dereck’s help and several hours of surgery, Beverly survived, but their brushes with death have failed to diminish their passion for wildlife and protecting endangered and threatened species.

“It starts with the predators. That’s what we’ve noticed, and that’s why we started the Big Cats Initiative at National Geographic,” Beverly said.

Based in Botswana, the Jouberts’ Great Plains Conservation moves threatened animals to safety.

In their roles as National Geographic explorers-at-large, the Jouberts will speak at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Sunday, Oct. 25.