@savingthesurvivors founder Dr. Johan and team in South Africa were called to help a desperate reserve owner who had lost 4 Rhinos in one night in a brutal poaching attack!
Many reserve owners in South Africa are feeling immense financial pressure after covid has seen their main income from tourism practically disappear over the past 2 years. By far the biggest expense for these custodians of our wildlife is the security and measures needed to keep the most endangered species safe.
This is where, with your support, our teams can provide life saving assistance. We are able to support these wildlife caretakers with our veterinary services for free, in this case, in collaboration with the @councilofcontributors and helicopter pilot Gerry McDonald, we were able to fly in, trim the horns, take DNA and blood samples and microchip all the Rhinos that remained on the reserve. Undoubtably making them less of a target for the poachers that were feared to still be in the area.
The Reserve owner said - “I stand here with tears in my eyes because of your generosity – we didn’t see how we were going to get this done.” “It’s very lonely being a private rhino owner. Until now, we didn’t have any support, we didn’t know anyone we could call who cares the way we do.”
It is your donations that make this possible, your support has directly protected these Rhinos. Thank you to all that have donated, please continue to show your support by donating via the button or link in our Bio.
If you can’t stay up that late, the program will also be available on @bbciplayer!
Follow the team of international experts, lead by @savingthesurvivors STS, as they search the wilds of South Sudan for any remaining Northern White Rhino.
“We would like to thank our long standing supporters and kit suppliers @craghoppers for their ongoing collaboration in this project.”
While the vaquita is not deliberately hunted by humans, its downfall has been the extensive fishing of the totoaba, a fish whose swim bladder is a delicacy in China. Gill nets used to catch totoaba have quite literally massacred the vaquita - over 80% of their population disappeared between 2008 and 2015.
Government efforts to preserve the species were perfunctory - “vaquita-safe” nets proved nowhere near as effective as the old gill nets, fishermen rioted when a related fishery was shut down for fear of it being used as a cover for tatoaba poaching (ironic, as that fishery used safer nets), and compensatory monthly checks to men losing their livelihood were meager, sometimes less than a man could make in a single day’s fishing. The export of tataobas was banned and a marine reserve established, but poaching and smuggling is rampant, and there is little incentive to stop it. A single tatoaba bladder can bring in $20 000, while the fine for being caught poaching is about $500. Even now, the controversial Sea Shepherd is one of the few ships patrolling for poachers, and they can do little but film and report them. In the meantime, dead vaquita continue to be pulled from the waters.
The latest estimates say there may be only 12 vaquita left in the world. If the vaquita goes extinct, it will be the first extinction of a marine mammal since the loss of the baijiin 2006.
Thank you to everyone that signed our petition and helped call on the South African government to do this!
Legalizing trade in rhino horn would have been a disaster for species that are just barely hanging on now as it is. This decision does not fix the plight of rhinos—but it gives space and time to tackle poaching, close down illegal markets and eliminate the loopholes that already help enable the $20 billion market in illegal international wildlife trade. South Africa bought more time for rhinos today—and should follow up with more key actions to keep these animals on the planet.
Canines are a highly sought after and integral part of the most successful anti-poaching units. With advanced training, their keen skills enable rangers to be more effective and efficient.
But initially people were skeptical the canines could be effective in an environment alongside the Big Five.
In 2010, the first canine was trialed in Kruger National Park. Ngwenya (whose name means crocodile),…
From poaching victim to survivor, Thandi has defied the odds and even miraculously become a mom, not just once, but twice! Top: with baby Thembi, Bottom: with baby Colin (photo: Daniel Haesslich)
In a 2015 study of admitted poachers in the largest park in Tanzania, 4 out of 5 admitted to poaching for food or income. But not all of them poached due to extreme poverty (in need of food and shelter). For many it was a means of supplemental income. In fact only 8% used poaching as their only source of income. by Conservation and Society
Proud to sponsor the quality ranger training at NKWE in South Africa! These men take part in a rigorous 12 month training competency, and not only protect rhinos and elephants, but play a big role in helping their community.
To donate toward the rangers or one of our other conservation initiatives, please go to fightforrhinos.com
In 2017, you helped us send appoximately $1500 usd to HESC (Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center) and $1000 to OPC (Ol Pejeta Conservancy) toward the funding of their APU canines.
We appreciate all you’ve done!!
2018 will be a year of transition for Fight for Rhinos.
We have gone through some personal changes in the last months and I will now be soley responsible for Fight for Rhinos. This means…
How: Each piece will have a minimum start price, simply choose the piece that catches your eye, and place your bid. At the end of the final day (Sunday, Sept 4) the winning bids will be contacted. You will have 24 hrs to respond. If you do not, the second highest bid will be contacted.
*ALL proceeds will benefit our projects at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya and Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center in South Africa.
Today is an opportunity to give rangers the appreciation and respect they deserve. When laws are weak, technology is expensive, and the price on an animal’s head is high, the only thing literally standing between a poacher and rhino, is the ranger.
We salute you all! Thank you for your dedication, bravery and efforts. You truly are our heroes.
