Project Rhino KZN was launched on World Rhino Day, 22 September 2011. It is a province-wide rhino-focussed association that brings together a provincial government conservation body, private and community-owned reserves, rhino owners, leading conservation NGOs and anti-poaching security specialists.
Founding Statement
“Project Rhino KZN is an association of like-minded organisations facilitating rhino conservation interventions aimed at eliminating rhino poaching and securing the white and black rhino populations of KwaZulu-Natal. The members of Project Rhino KZN recognise that the work in conserving and protecting rhinos from the threat of poaching is symbolic of the broader threat faced by all wildlife, and that all wildlife will benefit from actions taken by Project Rhino KZN. The association is also aware that the poaching of rhino is symptomatic of the overall, bigger environmental crises facing South Africa and its neighbours.”
Vision
What motivates us daily is the dream of both White and Black rhino species thriving in KwaZulu-Natal and far beyond – forever free, forever secure from poaching, well managed and protected. Today we strive to protect the world’s last remaining African rhino species, so that tomorrow they will still continue to play their vital role in our continent’s irreplaceable and beautiful ecosystems, contributing to an ever-growing realization of our fundamental reliance on the natural environment (and ALL its elements) for our very basic needs. We honour their uniqueness as one of the primary icons of Africa’s great wilderness areas.
Project Rhino KZN’s collective approach to rhino anti-poaching is both proactive and reactive. Our priority areas include:
- Effective coordination and maintaining strong working relationships between KZN’s government conservation agency (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife), private and community-owned game reserves and conservation NGOs
- Direct support to game reserves through the provision of anti-poaching equipment and technical resources;
- Aerial surveillance: the Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing (ZAP-Wing) is our flagship project, providing both surveillance and reaction support to 24 game reserves in northern KZN
- Community conservation and education – a partnership with well-known explorer Kingsley Holgate and the ‘Rhino Art – Let the Children’s Voices Be Heard’ campaign
- Provision of legal expertise and support to Investigation Officers & State Prosecutors through the Blythe Loutit Judicial Support programme;
- Assisting anti-poaching authorities with additional crime mapping expertise
- Strategic liaison with important stakeholders at a national and international level
- Accountable fundraising for critical anti-poaching needs, including informant funding, equipment, training, aerial surveillance and community outreach
Project Rhino KZN’s members, individually, have a wide range of rhino conservation and anti-poaching strategies, with each member focussing on their specific areas of expertise.
Collectively, Project Rhino KZN has received over R2million in donations and is grateful for the support of schools, businesses, trusts, foundations and the public in KZN, nationally and internationally. Please continue to support our efforts and help us save a species.
Contact information for Project Rhino KZN can be found in the footer below.