Support Mounted Rangers Fighting Rhino Poaching

A huge thank you to all our GlobalGiving friends and partners for your generous contributions to the project! Thank you also to RCL Foods and Cliff Wills from Ubhejane X NPO for assisting with horse feed and medication. These mounted patrols operate on shoe-string budgets and, even though they may seem small, items like these make a huge difference to the bottom line and to team morale.

Project Rhino travelled to Zululand last month to drop off some supplies and catch up with the mounted rangers and their needs. Our funding priorities remain the well-being of the rangers and horses (feed, medication and a small salary for a groom); but additional areas in need of assistance include ranger training (e.g. first aid), new riding tack and some renovations to the stables. We are delighted to have Anthony Kirkwood from Big Red Media Design assisting us with filming the horse units for a promotional video. This will be of huge help in both drawing attention to the cause and in raising additional funding for essential items.

For those who follow them, our Department of Environmental Affairs has just released the latest rhino poaching statistics (https://www.dffe.gov.za/mediarelease/rhinopoaching_2021). A total of 451 rhinos were poached in South Africa in 2021: 327 within government reserves and 124 on private property. While there is a 24 per cent decrease in rhino poaching compared to the pre-Covid period, there has been a concerning increase in poaching on private properties. There were 189 arrests in connection with poaching activities last year, versus 156 people in 2020.

Tackling wildlife crime requires a holistic approach that responds to the complex range of factors that drive it. In addition to supporting equine units, we also manage a dedicated aerial patrol wing and K9-Unit; both of which continue to be vital interventions in the deterrence of would-be poachers and the tracking and apprehension of suspects. Wherever possible, we also support our rhino reserves with ranger training and equipment and the dehorning of rhinos in high-risk areas. In parallel, initiatives that engage youth, the public and communities are being implemented to build understanding at community level of the value of wildlife and biodiversity.

With our learners now back at school after the Christmas break, Richard and the Rhino Art education team will once again be travelling to communities to spread the conservation message. Together with our partners, we are delighted to have now delivered an incredible 2-million meals to wildlife communities. In a wonderful collaboration with conservation NGOs, corporate partners and game reserves, we have changed the focus of this project to include the development of nutritional gardens, crèche upgrading, water pipelines, reservoirs and community tanks, thereby moving from Feeding to Empowering the wildlife community, so leaving a more lasting legacy in terms of good conservation neighbourliness.

Project Rhino remains committed to protecting KZN’s rhino populations, and will continue to work tirelessly to combat wildlife crime. Thank you so much to all our donors and supporters for helping us keep our teams on the ground, it would never be possible without your ongoing motivation and support.