Rhino Fundraising Feedback
The front line of the war against rhinos
The facts are that hundreds of rhinos are killed every year as a result of poaching and the staggering death toll numbers are no longer being released for public news.
We know that there is little government intervention in place and that legalizing horn selling and rhino farming have become options to prevent the extinction of the rhino species.
We know that a few rhinos are still alive thanks to the contributions of millions of private individuals who care enough to either shop in support of the rhino, buy relevant product, etc.
Finally, we know that education is key as awareness leads to prevention.
Why we partnered with Project Rhino KZN?
Deciding which beneficiary to work with was a challenging one, as there are so many worthy animal welfare organisations throughout the country, all doing what they can to shine light on the sordid reality of rhino poaching. KZN has recently become home to the second-largest population of white rhinos left in the world, and 25% of South Africa’s population of the critically endangered black rhino, so the city has become almost a safe haven for these beloved creatures.
Currently the province is putting up a good fight and managing to keep poaching numbers to below 3% of KZN’s rhino population. This means that KZN’s rhinos are still viable and holding their own. But the rhino poaching threats are escalating and both private and provincial reserves are reporting poaching incursions almost daily.
The difference Project KZN is making?
The Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing: 17 private reserves receive constant fixed-wing surveillance and Project Rhino KZN manages an airfield that is dedicated to providing anti-poaching support for all game reserves in Zululand. The delivery of 3 new helicopters will drastically boost their aerial anti-poaching support and provide immediate respnonse assistance to all 26 rhino reserves in northern Zululand.
Ranger Training: Rangers need constant support in their front-line rhino protection roles and the organisation helps to improve their skills through funded training for staff on game reserves in both Zululand and the Midlands. Project Rhino KZN is thrilled to announce that they’ve rolled out the first ‘Use of Force’ training programme in South Africa. This urgently-needed course helps rangers and game reserve managers understand Section 49 of the South African Criminal Procedures Act, which rangers and anti-poaching units have to comply with when engaging in armed contact with rhino poaching gangs. It also gives them practical skills in how to effectively disarm and arrest poaching suspects in tough (often night-time) bush conditions.
This training course is facilitated by their partner/ member, the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA). Other training that they’ve been able to fund – thanks to donors – is Human Tracking training, which is facilitated by the SA Wildlife College.
More than 50 rangers from 15 game reserves have already benefitted from this important support in 2015.
In other news:
The Rhino Art campaign – read more here
The Rhino Art campaign is Project Rhino KZN’s award-winning education and awareness project run in conjunction with the world-renowned African modern-day explorer and humanitarian, Kingsley Holgate.
This project has reached over 200,000 school pupils in 10 countries and 250 schools in southern Africa and also in Vietnam (a key rhino horn consumer country).
It carries a ‘hearts and minds’ message that educates school pupils on the value of conserving rhino and the role of international criminal syndicates in the rhino poaching crisis. It also plays a positive role in assisting KZN’s game reserves build good relationships with their neighbouring, rural communities.
Now this type of art is what we call INSPIRING.
We encourage you to let your VOICE be heard on paper and create something AMAZING.