Protecting Rhinos

Thank you for supporting DSWF by donating to our rhino projects.

Amongst the global uncertainty brought about by Covid-19, your support has never been more important as conservation projects grapple to deal with limited resources, reduced tourism and increasing levels of poaching. Despite the devastating impacts of Covid-19 on conservation efforts, DSWF have pledged to maintain full levels of support across our whole conservation portfolio. This will stretch us to our financial limits, but we have no other option!

You protect precious populations of rhino through supporting vital anti-poaching work such as consistent patrolling and monitoring. Our Programmes and Policy Intern, Linus Hiscox, had a deeper look into anti-poaching methods in Failing the Rhino: controversial conservation.

Links:

• Sparking Change: what we can learn from the Covid-19 pandemic
• Join us for a Virtually Unmissable Evening - Fri 6 Nov
• Why are rhinos endangered?

Thank you for donating to our Protecting Rhinos project. David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) has been a proud and long-term supporter and investor into rhino conservation around the world since its inception 35 years ago. DSWF has supported extensive programs looking to save both the African rhino and the Indian one-horned rhino since our formation.

The year 2020 has been fraught with challenges, in light of the global pandemic, which has forced us all to adapt, one way or another. Despite the difficulties we are now faced with, we are proud to say that our relationship is as strong as ever with our ground-based conservation partners and that our combined efforts are continuing to make a difference to some of the most world’s most vulnerable wildlife populations and communities living alongside them. We are incredibly grateful to the brave wildlife rangers, who even amid the current crisis, are risking their lives on the frontline of wildlife crime and working tirelessly to maintain their vital conservation efforts.

Across Africa, black rhino populations continue to decline, with an estimated 5000 individuals left in the wild. This is predominately due to the increasing demand for rhino horn, which is valued at between $20,0000-US$60,000kg on the black market and is part of the $19 billion international illegal wildlife trade.

Your generosity, your impact:

We are currently funding monitoring and research-based projects, anti-poaching and species protection operations and translocation programmes across both Africa and Asia.

DSWF Art Ambassador Emily Lamb recently visited our long-term partners in Assam, India and attended a number of educational workshops as part of the ‘Rhino Goes to School’ initiative run by our ground-based partners, Aaranyak. Emily was blown away but the interaction and engagement of the children, who turn out in their hundreds to attend these interactive workshops which focus on fostering positive understanding and relationships between local communities and the rhinos who live in the surrounding National parks and protected areas.

Tragically, we are sorry to report that as a direct result of CV-19 we are witnessing a spike in rhino poaching across all of our rhino projects sites and we hope that you will continue to support us to ensure conservation efforts are not undone due to the current crisis.

By supporting DSWF’s journey in rhino conservation, you are playing an instrumental role in keeping staff on the ground, providing training, logistical support, performance-based bonus payments and vital field gear. Even more so, your donations have enabled the continued research and protection of black rhino and their habitat use which is helping inform sustainable planning, development and management activities.

Thank you for supporting our Protecting Rhinos projects and for helping us halt the extinction of wild rhinos in some of the most beautiful wild landscapes.

Links:

• Adopt Inka the Black Rhino
• Learn more about the work we do with Rhinos
• Visit DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 Online Exhibition