Mounted rangers constantly put their lives on the line while protecting our rhino populations from well-equipped and organised poachers. A staggering increase in poaching has devastated the South African rhino population, with almost 9,000 rhinos killed for their horns in the last decade. KZN's mounted rangers and loyal horses are part of the last stand in this war.
Over 4,000 rhinos in South Africa have been inhumanely and illegally slaughtered by poachers in the past five years - a devastating loss to the country's tourism & conservation sectors and the country as a whole. Our under-funded and equipped Horse Unit rangers experience severe conditions in the African bush whilst monitoring the rhinos in their care. In addition to combating incursions by poachers, the rangers must traverse rough terrain and be wary of attack by lion and leopards.
Mounted rangers have a higher vantage point, helping them to see above the long summer grass. Horses are able to patrol quietly and extend the daily patrol from 10km on foot to 30km on horseback. As a result, rangers are far less fatigued when contact with poachers is made. Response time is much shorter for a mounted ranger, thereby improving the chances of a poacher's apprehension before a rhino becomes a statistic.
Help us support Horse Units in game reserves across South Africa. We require contributions to purchase horses, horse feed, veterinary care, secure stables to protect the horses from nocturnal predators, riding kit (saddles and bridles), tack cleaning and maintenance equipment, horse grooming kits and horse and ranger first aid kits.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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