Project Rhino’s Aerial Patrol Wings

Project Purpose

The Zululand and Midlands Aerial Patrol Wings provide rapid aerial surveillance and response across multiple reserves, dramatically increasing the range and speed of anti-poaching operations. Our aircraft act as eyes in the sky, helping to protect South Africa’s iconic wildlife — especially rhinos — from poachers.

Project Overview

Founded in 2012, the Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing (ZAP-Wing) has grown into a critical anti-poaching intervention. With two aircraft in Zululand and an additional aerial wing based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (MAP-Wing), the operations now safeguard more than 800,000 hectares of conservation and protected land.

From above, our pilots and spotters detect suspicious activity, guide ground teams, and respond rapidly to threats. Working closely with conservation agencies, SAPS, anti-poaching specialists, and the Project Rhino K9-Unit, ZAP-Wing has has played a key role in numerous arrests, disrupted poaching syndicates, and recovered illegal weapons and wildlife products. By providing constant aerial visibility, we create a strong deterrent to poachers and other criminals.

How It Works

  • Daily aerial patrols: to monitor reserves and spot early poaching threats
  • Rapid response support: deploying aircraft and directing ground teams in real time
  • Search and rescue missions: for missing or injured wildlife
  • Transport: of Anti-Poaching Units (APUs) and K9 teams into hard-to-reach areas
  • Intelligence gathering: tracking suspicious vehicles and investigating illegal activity
  • Coordination: at our Joint Operations Centre, based at the ZAP-Wing airfield, which serves as a strategic hub for conservation agencies, SAPS, the Hawks, and multi-agency anti-poaching teams like Operation Rhino 9.

How You Can Help

The ZAP-Wing has proven to be an essential tool in fighting wildlife crime since 2012, but the project relies entirely on donations for its survival. Our key costs include:

  • Pilot salaries
  • Insurance and telecoms
  • Airfield rental, staff, and utilities
  • Ongoing operations and maintenance
  • Major aircraft servicing: ±R40,000 each, three times per year (three aircraft)
  • Full airplane re-skinning: ±R100,000 every 2–3 years
  • 🌍 Donate or fundraise for the cause: Support Our Work – Project Rhino
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