Rhino Pummels Ranger’s Car |
A video circulated in social media recently showed a rhino going to task with a safari vehicle that had driven too close and was being insensitive and invasive.
When one contemplates the raw power of this creature, tossing the vehicle around as though it was a toy car, one is simply stunned.
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How has this Two-Ton Behemoth been so easily vanquished by the Human Species? |
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It speaks to the cunning tactics poachers use in taking down the rhino. And the video makes the truth of this all the more tragic. |
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So, where are we with poaching
as 2022 heads to a close?
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You might want to believe the rhetoric — Rhino poaching numbers are down! San Parks and the ANC government are keen to have people believe that they are on top of the crisis. And that rhinos are faring better.
The reality is simply this — Yes, rhino poaching numbers are down. But there’s a big question. Why are they down?
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Poaching is down because the number of rhinos is falling. In the Greater Kruger National Park, where over 10,000 rhinos roamed as little as 12 years ago, the numbers are a shocking 1,500.
In a desperate attempt to stop these numbers crashing further, authorities are now dehorning rhinos.
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Yes, however, poachers simply shifted location and are now downing rhinos in another part of the country — Kwa Zulu Natal — where over 200 rhinos recently have been killed. |
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What do we intend to do? How does BRR hope to impact events in Africa? |
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As we detailed in our last newsletter, the consensus in South Africa is that security through camera networks makes a substantive difference in rhino safety. |
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BRR license plate recognition cameras are
already installed:
• In the Kalahari Baby Rhino Rescue has ten cameras, thanks to funding by Matt Grossman.
• In Soutpansberg regions — we have three cameras on a road joined by four properties.
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Our bush motion cameras — supplied by our partner Wildlife Protection Solutions —are installed in:
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• The Kalahari — we have 20 already installed and are awaiting the arrival of the next 20.
• Marataba — BRR is about to install 10 cameras in this Waterberg game reserve
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• At a private farm in Limpopo, we have installed 5 cameras.
• A private farm in the North West province has two BRR cameras.
• Once the cameras clear customs, a game reserve in the Soutpansberg will receive 10 cameras.
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60 Wildlife Protection Service cameras have been purchased by BRR this year. We are waiting for the last 25 to clear customs, where upon they will be installed in different areas. |
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With 400,000 hectares, it is South Africa’s biggest wildlife area outside of the Kruger National Park. What makes it so vital is that with 2,000 or more rhinos, it is the biggest concentration of rhinos in the country now.
It is impressive because the private rhino owners in the region, working with SanParks, are on their game! The area is circled by layers of cameras. And no rhinos are being poached!
The Waterberg might in fact be the region that prevents the extinction of the species and as such is vital!
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BRR Founder Helena Kriel and SA director Karina Suter attended the Save the Waterberg Rhino gathering in March. It was explained that one remaining area in the Waterberg is not protected, and this area makes the entire region vulnerable.
Our mission was clear — raise money to protect this area!
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BRR reached out to friends Conserv Earth and the two organizations planned a splashy golf day to make this happen.
Six months later we held our Golf Day and R500,000 was raised. That’s more than $27,000!
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Working with Save the Waterberg Rhinos, we will be purchasing the cameras, and they will be installed ASAP — to get ahead of the Christmas killing spree! Sadly, rhinos are never more targeted than around Christmas.
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Rhino Connect
Partnership Flourishes
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75% of South Africa’s rhinos are in the hands of the private rhino owners, also known as PROs. These intrepid environmental warriors personally fund the security that keeps their rhinos safe. But the PROs are in trouble because the security fees have escalated. |
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We have been working to help these vital rhino protectors; Baby Rhino Rescue is one of the very few organizations that have picked up the cause!
With our partner Rhino Connect, we aid these heroes on a monthly basis.
In the last two months BRR has aided the PROs in the following ways:
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* BRR funded wildlife veternarian Dr Boshoff to assist with the relocation of two young white rhino bulls. This relocation was not related to poachers, but a more mature bull rhino was bullying them and had already killed a younger rhino! They were darted and moved for their safety!
* We funded helicopter flying time for anti-poaching patrols in the Northwest part of South Africa.
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* Luckily, an injured young elephant was spotted on this patrol and rescued, so unexpectedly we were able to help another species also!
* We were able to come to the aid of an injured black rhino in the Limpopo area by offering veterinary and helicopter funding.
• We were able to support anti-poaching helicopter support in the Gravelot region of the country.
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• We funded the treatment of Junior, an injured rhino in the Bela-Bela area. He had two untreated festering gunshot wounds. Junior was unable to walk properly, but after having the bullets removed, he is on his way to recovery. |
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• In response to a poaching incident on a private farm In the Northwest part of the country, BRR installed four bush motion cameras with our partner Wildlife Protection Services. Additionally, we also supplied fuel so they could attend to patrols via road and aerial bat-hawks! Happily, there have been no poaching incidents since then! |
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• When an early morning call was received that a gunshot was heard in the Limpopo region, we enabled aerial surveillance.
Thankfully after foot, anti-poaching dog, and air monitoring, all rhinos were accounted for.
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However, gun shots and cut fences were reported on a property close by.
We enabled an all-security mobilization of the area and two teams of dog (K9) units.
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After a 36-hour hunt, everybody stood down, and the count of rhinos started. Thankfully there were no poached rhinos there!
• BRR funded vet Dr Beverley to treat an injured rhino in the Bela-Bela area. He was struggling with a previously treated wound.
All this gives one a sense of the war being fought to keep our rhinos alive!
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With her valuable connections, her technical know-how, her passion, her contacts across a number of fields, and her energy, Sarah will enable us to move the dial forward for license plate recognition cameras in a substantial way. More will be revealed in the next newsletter. Welcome, Sarah!
While the road ahead is rocky, and no outcomes certain, one thing we can rely on — the passion of people working together. The right collaborations make so much possible.
We have a number of very exciting projects in the pipeline, more to be revealed! Stay tuned.
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Every one of the members of BRR volunteer their time and energy, truly a remarkable thing. And our team grows.
We want to thank you, our donors. You are collaborating with us! Truly, without you, nothing is possible!
We love to hear from you, so please reach out with an idea, a suggestion, or a comment!
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Baby Rhino Rescue has new tee shirt designs available at Bonfire.com, including the two shown above. |
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Click HERE to place an order, spread the word, and help the cause.
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• Contact@BabyRhinoRescue.org •
• 1744 Deerhill Trail, Topanga, CA 90290 •
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