Support Rangers Protecting Endangered Species

Thank you for your continued support of our Anti-Poaching Unit. Your commitment stands behind every ranger on the ground, every patrol, and every moment of protection that keeps this landscape and its wildlife safe.

Updates from our Anti-Poaching Unit (APU)

1. Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders To stay ahead of poaching and illegal mining syndicates, our security forces must constantly evolve and grow. In March 2026, we proudly completed a comprehensive 30 day Junior Leader Course where three teams each completed ten days. This rigorous training cycle has significantly strengthened our operational capacity on the ground, ensuring that the reserve is protected by a highly capable, adaptable, and dedicated frontline team.

2. Defending the Perimeter Against the Elements Over the last few months, sustained heavy rainfall has caused widespread infrastructure damage. Despite these immense challenges, our rangers and maintenance teams maintained a proactive security shield. To prepare for the upcoming fire season, teams slashed and cleared 10.6 kilometers of boundary fence line in February, followed by a staggering 19.75 kilometers in March. The teams also rebuilt a primary wooden access bridge and constructed a functional new training camp using old mine terraces.

3. Disrupting the Threat: Illegal Mining Arrests Illegal mining poses a severe threat by degrading habitats and creating vulnerabilities for wildlife. Thanks to our intelligence-led strategies and diligent patrols, our rangers are pushing back. In March, our teams successfully apprehended an illegal miner found in possession of explosives. By neutralizing this threat, the APU prevented potentially devastating harm to the reserve and its wildlife.

 4. Relentless Snare Sweeps Bushmeat poaching remains a persistent challenge, but our APU teams have been relentless in their field detection efforts during a season of increased activity. In January, our security operations successfully located and removed 18 snares, alongside making two arrests. In February, the teams removed an additional 15 snares. Removing these hidden traps is critical to ensuring that the landscape is completely safe for our roaming rhinos and wildlife.

Every kilometre patrolled, every snare removed, and every threat disrupted is a direct result of your support. You are part of the effort that keeps this landscape protected and gives wildlife the chance to live safely in their natural environment.

Thank you for standing with our rangers and for helping to protect what cannot protect itself.

Thank you for standing with our Anti-Poaching Unit and supporting the vital work they do every day to protect rhinos in their natural habitat. This report highlights the impact your support has made over the past quarter, strengthening on-the-ground security, safeguarding vulnerable rhinos, and helping prevent poaching before it can happen.

Honouring a Legend: Crocodile’s Retirement

After more than a decade of dedicated service on the frontlines of rhino protection, our beloved Frank, known affectionately as Crocodile, has officially retired. For over ten years, he has been an indispensable part of Care for Wild’s protection strategy, walking countless kilometres alongside our rangers and forming deep bonds with the rhinos under our care.

Crocodile’s presence will be profoundly missed. His calm demeanor, knowing smile, and deep understanding of rhino behaviour made him not just a guide but a mentor within our team. His knowledge and intuition, honed over years of experience, have been invaluable in keeping rhinos safe and in training new generations of wildlife protectors.

Before retiring, Crocodile shared his wisdom with a new group of ranger recruits, ensuring that his insight and experience continue to strengthen the future of wildlife protection.

We are deeply grateful to Frank for his unwavering dedication, loyalty, and heart. His retirement is richly deserved, and we hope it brings him peace, joy, and the quiet satisfaction of a life spent protecting some of the world’s most endangered animals

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Caring for Our Mounted Unit Heroes

Our horses recently received their annual vaccinations and dental check-ups, an essential part of keeping them healthy, comfortable, and ready for the vital work they do alongside our rangers.

Horses, like humans, can develop dental issues that make eating painful and affect their performance. Regular dental care prevents discomfort and ensures they remain strong and agile. Vaccinations are equally important, protecting them from serious diseases such as African horse sickness and tetanus.

These remarkable animals are far more than patrol partners. They are trusted companions, covering long distances across challenging terrain to help safeguard the rhinos and wildlife in our care. By prioritising their health and wellbeing, we ensure they can continue this critical work safely, confidently, and comfortably.

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Celebrating Jimmy: Our Newly Qualified Dog Handler

We are thrilled to celebrate a remarkable achievement by Jimmy, one of Care for Wild’s dedicated Rhino Monitors. After completing the full Genesis K9 Group Dog Handler 1–5 programme, Jimmy is now a fully qualified Dog Handler.

Over an intensive 12 weeks, Jimmy undertook demanding training that included classroom work, hands-on kennel experience, physical conditioning, and rigorous assessments. The programme covered everything from foundational dog care and obedience to advanced patrol, tracking, and detection skills. Not only did he complete all five modules, he excelled, earning top honours as Fittest Student and Best Student Overall.

Jimmy now returns to Care for Wild equipped with new expertise, confidence, and a canine partner by his side, strengthening our security and K9 capabilities. His journey is more than a personal milestone; it exemplifies how conservation can create opportunity. Through protecting rhinos and their ecosystems, we empower members of local communities to develop specialised skills, pursue meaningful careers, and play an active role in safeguarding their natural heritage.

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Care for Wild at ACT Con: Advancing Global Conservation Technology

This November, Care for Wild had the privilege of attending the Applied Conservation Technology Congress (ACT Con), hosted in Vietnam. The gathering brought together leading voices in conservation and technology to explore the future of data-driven protected area management.

Thanks to a sponsored placement from EarthRanger, Care for Wild was able to participate in this global forum. Our Conservation Technology Manager, Sam Cilliers, represented the organisation and engaged with international partners who are shaping how technology supports wildlife protection and landscape management.

As long-standing users of the EarthRanger platform, Care for Wild recognises the essential role that integrated, real-time systems play in strengthening security, improving decision-making, and supporting team coordination on the ground. ACT Con reaffirmed the importance of these tools and provided valuable insights that will further enhance our conservation technology ecosystem.

Thank you for your continued support, we could not do what we do without you.