Support Mounted Rangers Fighting Rhino Poaching

Our sincere thanks and gratitude to all our amazing friends at GlobalGiving for generously supporting the Mounted Rangers Project this quarter. Every donation truly makes a difference to the rangers and ecosystems they work so hard to protect.

The past 18 months have been tough, with 448 rhinos poached in our game reserves across South Africa, and more than half of these in KwaZulu-Natal. However, this did not stop the dedicated Project Rhino team from working around the clock to fight the onslaught. Last year, the Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing (ZAP-Wing) flew 403 hours on patrol and reaction across member reserves (spanning some 800,000 Ha). The ZAP-Wing were able to locate 12 poached rhinos, and an additional two wounded rhinos who were successfully treated. Five calves from poached adult females were also located and moved to rhino orphanages to ensure their survival.

In just 12 months, our Project Rhino K9 team removed a staggering 885 snares during their patrols. That's potentially 885 animals saved from a cruel fate. They also responded to 112 emergency call outs, assisted in the apprehension of 33 criminals, recovered three illegal firearms, helped to solve 17 theft cases, retrieved nine stolen vehicles, dealt with ten armed robberies, and seized narcotics worth a jaw-dropping R15 million in three separate incidents.

In 2022, the Rhino Art team reached 11,466 school children through 42 different events, delivering their conservation education message to communities near to conservation areas and poaching hotspots.

Furthermore, we helped to organize 29 training workshops covering various topics such as K9 training, advanced rifle training, and ranger training. These workshops empower the rangers on the ground, ensuring they can perform their jobs competently and confidently.

The fight against wildlife crime is a complex issue which we are tackling through a comprehensive approach. Thank you for supporting our dedicated teams in their relentless efforts to protect wildlife, educate communities, and conserve our precious natural heritage. Together, we can make a real difference and ensure a brighter future for our magnificent rhinos and the game reserves they call home.