Project Rhino KZN’s members have a wide range of rhino conservation and anti-poaching strategies, with each member focussing on their specific areas of expertise. Each and every one is urgently needed if we are going to turn the poaching tide in KZN.
Each initiative requires funding support. If you want to help save KZN’s rhinos, please consider supporting one of the credible needs outlined below.
Download the full list of interventions here
(In alphabetical order)
AFRICAN CONSERVATION TRUST (ACT)
ACT is dedicated to preserving Africa’s wildlife and environmental heritage. It also acts as the Secretariat and central recipient of funds for Project Rhino KZN members who are actively engaged in rhino conservation and anti-poaching efforts.
ACT wants to reduce the need for communities bordering Project Rhino KZN reserves to engage in poaching, as often poverty, lack of food and unemployment are reasons for poaching. ACT has 3 activities needing support:
1) Enterprise creation & poverty alleviation
2) Conservation Agriculture/Food Security projects
3) Natural Resource Management and Development
In addition, ACT has a goal of raising R10million via its 2012 Skydive for Rhinos campaign. 100% of the funds raised will go tangible and urgently needed interventions that collectively strengthen efforts to counteract rhino poaching. Please also contact us if you want to participate in the Skydive for Rhinos campaign.
Contact: Sheelagh Antrobus
Tel: 033-342 2844
Email: funding@projectafrica.com
Website: www.projectafrica.com
BLACK RHINO RANGE EXPANSION PROJECT (WWF)
The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project creates new black rhino breeding populations on large areas of land, and supports rhino security on source populations such as Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Mkhuze and Ithala. Seven new populations have been created since 2004.
Contact: Pam Sherriffs
Cell: 083-943 1754
Email: psherriffs@wwf.org.za
Website: www.wwf.org.za
EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE (EKZNW)
EKZNW is KZN’s 100-year old provincial conservation authority. It is entrusted with the long-term conservation of the region’s rich biodiversity and manages 68 game reserves. It manages all rhino conservation programmes in KZN (both public and private parks) and is the primary body tasked with counteracting rhino poaching in KZN.
Key funding needs are: 16 Camera Traps, 15 Thermal Imaging cameras, Helicopter hours, 30 3-Watt LED torches and 50 tents.
Contact: Jabulani Ngubane (Rhino security officer)
Cell: 082-6117075
Email: ngubanej@kznwildlife.com
Website: www.kznwildlife.com
GAME RANGERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA
The Game Rangers Association of Africa is training field rangers in the field, and through the South African Wildlife College and through partnerships, it aims to standardise skills development in the profession. It also facilitates the management of rhino poaching information and aims to increase public awareness around rhino poaching.
Their key funding need is for training in: field ranger skills, anti-poaching, advanced weapon handling, tracking, skills development, law enforcement, crime scene management, field ranger management and scene of the crime.
Contact: Chris Galliers
Cell: 079-504 4296
Email: chrisgalliers@gameranger.co.za
Website: www.gameranger.org
MAGQUBU NTOMBELA FOUNDATION
Dr Ian Player’s Magqubu Ntombela Foundation has established a team of legal, intelligence gathering and forensic experts whose primary aim is to provide support to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the SAPS in their efforts to combat Rhino poaching. They also provide advice and support to other members of Project Rhino KZN.
Funding is needed for: information networks and training for prosecutors and the SAPS
Contact: Chris van Heerden
Tel: 031-202 8700
Cell: 082-454 9441
Email: chris@vanheerdenlaw.co.za
Website: www.mnf.org.za
SPACE FOR ELEPHANTS FOUNDATION
We see the survival of our Rhino and all wildlife in Africa like the African 3-legged pot that provides food: if one leg collapses, we will all go hungry. Space for Elephants’ rhino work includes:
1. Protecting Rhinos in the field
2. Working with communities and schools, educating them on the value of rhino to South Africa
3. Intelligence and information gathering
Criical Funding needs: education programmes in schools bordering reserves, monitoring of rhino populations in two vulnerable reserves (vehicle and foot patrols) and 6 camera traps.
Contact: Digs Pascoe
Email: digspascoe@zulukingdom.co.za
Tel: (+27) 082 9262571 or (+27) 035 4745181
Website: www.space4elephants.org
THANDA FOUNDATION
The Thanda Foundation is dedicated to educating and informing communities bordering the Thanda Private Game Reserve of the need to protect the wildlife legacy and biodiversity of northern KwaZulu-Natal. In recognition of the dire situation of the African rhino, Thanda is one of the founding members of Project Rhino KZN and is actively involved in its conservation efforts.
Thanda needs help with the following anti-poaching equipment: Binoculars , sleeping bags, raincoats, water drums 200l, galvanised shower buckets, torches, gas cookers, first aid kits, camera traps and cell phones.
Contact: Dulcie Oliver
Tel: 035 5731899
Email: dulcie@thanda.co.za
Website: www.thanda.com
WESSA
WESSA is involved in fundraising to fund its direct anti-poaching interventions aimed at reducing and preventing rhino poaching. These include poaching information-gathering, the National rhino DNA database development and implementing critically-needed training for field rangers and conservation managers.
Key funding needs are for: local and international information programmes, school awareness campaigns and training for APU teams.
Contact: Chris Galliers
Tel: 033-330 3931
Cell: 079-504 4296
Email: chris@wessa.co.za
Website: www.wessa.org.za
WILDLANDS CONSERVATION TRUST
The Wildlands Conservation Trust’s Rhino Conservation Project aims to preserve rhino populations in KwaZulu-Natal by employing advanced surveillance technologies (GPS & GSM tracking) to improve monitoring and security.
Funding needs: GPS/GSM tracking equipment for rhinos in a community-owned game reserve and rhino monitoring patrols. You can also adopt a rhino.
Contact: Kevin McCann, Strategic Manager – Stewardship,
Tel: 033 343 6380
Cell: 083 447 0657
Email: kevinm@wildlands.co.za
Website: www.wildlands.co.za
WILDLIFE ACT FUND
The Wildlife ACT Fund supports rhino monitoring projects in KZN and on WWF – Black Rhino Range Expansion sites. We also currently manage the rhino monitoring work on Somkhanda Game Reserve, and assist with monitoring efforts on Thanda, Tembe, Mkhuze and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi game reserves.
In partnership with WildAID and the Rhino Reality campaign, Wildlife ACT Fund also aims to inform, involve and inspire those in Asia to end the demand for rhino horn.
Key funding needs: camera traps for five game reserves, rhino monitoring teams, ear notching (for identification purposes) and public service announcements.
Contact: Simon Morgan
Tel: 082-0938345
Email: simon@wildlifeactfund.org
Website: www.wildlifeactfund.org
WILDERNESS ACTION GROUP
African rhinos are iconic and wilderness-dependent species. The Wilderness Action Group is committed to ensuring that South Africa’s wilderness areas are protected and effectively managed for the long-term survival of our rhinos for the benefit of current and future generations.
Contact: Drummond Densham
Tel: 033-330 4039
Cell: 083-321 7959
Email: densham@sai.co.za
Website: www.wilderness.org.za
ZULULAND WILDLIFE SECURITY INITIATIVE
The Zululand Wildlife Security Initiative (ZWSI) was formed to create joint platform for field ranger training and sharing of information and resources and to assist smaller game reserve owners who aren’t able to fund dedicated anti-poaching units access the skills training needed to protect Zululand’s wildlife.
The ZWSI also aims to establish a Zululand Rhino Poaching Response Team which will be available to all rhino owners in the region to either assist them with an incident or to manage the incident on their behalf.
Funding is urgently needed for: set up of the Rhino Poaching Response Team (equipment and a vehicle), APU and criminal investigation training for game reserve staff from 11 Zululand game reserves, and equipment for APU teams. This includes binoculars, tactical vests (with pepper-spray, handcuffs, torches and water-storage capacity), sleeping bags, gas stoves, stretchers, radio headsets, digital camera for evidence collection, two-way radios and ground-to-air radio (for communication with Bateleurs air patrols).
Contact: Dylan Holmes
Tel: 082-803 1026
Email: dylan@zululandrhinoreserve.co.za
