Wildlife Conservation South Africa Project #14141

Protect and Save the life of Our Rhinos

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | May 9, 2017
New Tricks to Outwit

By Leah Brown | GVI Limpopo, Base Manager

Poachers Caught on Camera

Dear Supporters,

Anti-poaching is not a simple operation. It is multifaceted and requires the team on the ground to be one step ahead of syndicates attempting to acquire rhino horn. Thanks to your generous donations, the anti-poaching vehicle purchased for the team late last year has been busy monitoring the fence line and promptly responding to suspicious activity on the reserve. Although an extra vehicle has made a huge difference to the capabilities of the team this is still not enough.

As our close relationship with the reserve’s anti-poaching team continues, we are forever attempting to brainstorm ideas as to how we can outwit these dangerous perpetrators.

Two months ago, during one of GVI’s night patrols, foreign footprints were discovered along a short distance of the fence line. The tracks were immediately reported to the anti-poaching team and this area then became a location in need of close monitoring. It was impossible to physically oversee this short stretch of the fence continuously, so instead we placed eyes in our absence…

Camera trapping is a widely used tool within the conservation industry to determine wildlife population densities or to record the presence of shy, nocturnal animals that will not show themselves in the presence of human activity. If we can achieve image capture of wildlife nocturnal activities, why can’t we use this for human movement?

Two of our dedicated research camera traps with infrared capabilities were placed in very discreet locations, to avoid the eyes of potential intruders. The traps worked undetected throughout the night and upon collection the following day we could not believe our findings. We had managed to capture photographic evidence of poaching activity on our reserve, right in our own backyard! Although we were excited that our creative idea was successful, it was quite sobering to be looking at images of people who had broken into our home in an attempt to steal the life of an innocent animal.

Now that bullet-proof vests have been purchased for the anti-poaching team, our focus has now turned to camera trapping. There is not a finite number as to how many traps we require to be effective. We are simply asking for your donations to start the purchasing process and to trial run this new, undercover technique.

Thank you for your ongoing generosity.

With Gratitude,
The GVI Limpopo Team.

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Feb 11, 2017
Karongwe Rhinos Remain Protected

By Leah Brown | GVI Limpopo, Base Manager

Your support ensures a safe future for this young!

Dear Supporters,

Rhino poaching remains a constant threat as the number of rhinos killed rises. The driving force behind this merciless killing being a preposterous belief that rhino horn serves as a miracle medicine. As the number of rhinos around the world declines, the value for their horns rises. Currently, rhino horn is more valuable than gold, adding to the illegal desire of poaching circles. While the eyes of the world look at the larger reserves, like Kruger National Park, efforts in smaller reserves remain of the utmost importance, as all rhinos need to be valued and protected.

Currently, rhino horn is more valuable than gold, adding to the illegal desire of poaching circles. While the eyes of the world look at the larger reserves, like Kruger National Park, efforts in smaller reserves remain of the utmost importance, as all rhinos need to be valued and protected.

While the eyes of the world look at the larger reserves, like Kruger National Park, efforts in smaller reserves remain of the utmost importance, as all rhinos need to be valued and protected.

The new anti-poaching vehicle prevails

Currently, Karongwe’s anti-poaching efforts involve random patrols along the fence line conducted by the anti-poaching team, lodges and private camps on the reserve. These drives serve as a proactive measure establishing our continuous presence on the reserve, preventing potential encounters from poachers. With the addition of the new anti-poaching vehicle, purchased with your generous donations, the presence of our anti-poaching unit has been constant and vigilant.

This increased effort has proved effective as fortunately none of our rhinos were poached during 2016. The positive impacts observed through the addition of a single vehicle are all thanks to those who have donated, demonstrating their commitment to saving and protecting these precious individuals.

Future plans

Future donations will be put towards equipment upgrades to ensure that our current success is maintained. Often poachers will enter a reserve fully armed. These individuals do not necessarily carry weapons to harm people but if threatened the potential for human harm is real. We are hoping to raise funds to be able to equip the on-site anti-poaching team with bullet proof vests, as these are the men on the front line against poachers.

With gratitude,
GVI Limpopo

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Nov 29, 2016
Karongwe's New Anti-Poaching Vehicle!

By Richard Wilks | GVI Limpopo, Base Manager

Our New Vehicle!

Dear Supporters,

The Problem

Since 2008 poachers have killed at least 5,940 African rhinos…

Rhino poaching is currently at a crisis point. By the end of 2015, the number of African rhinos killed by poachers had increased for the sixth year in a row with at least 1,338 rhinos killed by poachers across Africa in 2015 with the vast majority of these poaching incidents occurring in South Africa. If this merciless slaughter continues rhino will be extinct by the year 2040.

The current poaching epidemic is attributed to the growing demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, mainly Vietnam and China. Vietnam has been identified as the largest user country of rhino horn. Although rhino horn has no scientific medical benefits, consumers are using it to treat a wide range of conditions, from cancer to hangovers, and due to its high value it is now also used as a status symbol by wealthy individuals. The high price fetched for the horn has attracted the involvement of ruthless criminal syndicates who use high-tech equipment to track down and kill the rhinos.

The Solution

Karongwe is one of the few private game reserves in South Africa who preserves the white rhino. Reserves who choose to accommodate these magnificent creatures do so with great responsibility. Law states that an anti-poaching unit must be active within any area containing rhino, a necessity due to the incredibly high demand for their horn. The anti-poaching team on Karongwe never sleeps. Their patrols run 24 hours a day 7 days a week, as the risk of intruders is constant, surprisingly even during the day.

The addition of this new vehicle to their patrols enables the unit to send an extra set of eyes and ears out on the reserve every day. It is this presence that assists in deterring poachers from initially entering the reserve as well as detecting their presence earlier if they have already penetrated the fence.

Not only is this vehicle a fantastic asset to the anti-poaching unit, it also reiterates a positive relationship with reserve management and landowners alike. It is contributions such as these that prove our commitment to a shared goal, the conservation of this unique endangered species.

Thank you for making it possible for us to increase our mobility in Karongwe!

With Gratitude,
GVI South Africa

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