Tiny hooves pounded the earth. Terrified animals were desperately fleeing the crackling flames as raging fires devoured Hermanus. All Corné Uys could think of was whether they’d make it out alive. The teenage conservationist realised that the slowest animals had the slightest chance of survival. “When I got home from school, it hit me – this is the biggest fire Hermanus has ever seen,” he says. Distressed families bundled their belongings and sped away from the streams of smoke overshadowing their houses. Instead, Uys packed his father’s car with emergency supplies and raced out into the blaze. He had tortoises to save.

Read Corne Uys' full story here.