Project Rhino KZN’s aerial anti-poaching patrols an immediate success

KwaZulu-Natal’s embattled game reserves have received a welcome boost to their rhino anti-poaching efforts with the launch of Project Rhino KZN’s aerial surveillance project, which assisted in the arrest of three rhino poachers on the 6th of December 2012.

More than 10 private and state-owned game reserves in the northern KZN region will benefit from the Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing (ZAP-Wing), which consists of a fully funded Cheetah aircraft and dedicated pilot, access to a BAC-owned helicopter for emergencies and a core group of three additional pilots from the Project Rhino KZN association.   The project has been 10 months in the making and is a collaboration between private game reserves, leading conservation NGOs and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

The Cheetah began flying daily patrols last week.  “60 rhino have been poached in Zululand this year – almost double last year’s figure,” said Dr Jacques Flamand of the WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project who sourced funds for the aircraft’s purchase.   “With this surge in poaching, it was easy for us to justify buying another aircraft as the first one had demonstrated its usefulness in monitoring rhinos and in assuring their security. The Cheetah’s addition to the ZAP-Wing will provide more eyes in the sky and, I trust, prove effective in Zululand’s anti–poaching drive. I am really excited and hopeful.”

Funding for the three-year employment of a dedicated ZAP-Wing pilot was a collaborative effort between the Wildlands Conservation Trust and the African Conservation Trust’s Skydive for Rhinos campaign. “Being one of the founding members of Project Rhino KZN in September last year, it is a massive achievement to see the launch of the Air Wing into northern Zululand, after several months of dedicated fundraising and assessments of what will actually make a difference,” said Kevin McCann from Wildlands.   “We know that aerial support in the key rhino properties in northern Zululand is going to make a significant difference to halt the dramatic increase in Rhino poaching in KZN, and we acknowledge those that have played a hand in making this happen. One of these organisations is ‘Rhino Army,’ a merchandise partner who have contributed over R150 000 towards making this project a success.”

The ZAP-Wing pilot has also flown helicopter assistance for three joint anti-poaching operations recently; the latest being last Wednesday which resulted in one poacher being shot dead and three arrested before any rhino could be attacked at a private game reserve.

Simon Naylor of the Zululand Wildlife Security Initiative expressed his relief at the launch saying, “Project Rhino KZN’s Cheetah has added another effective tool available to Zululand private and community game reserves in their fight against rhino poaching.  The threat to our rhino is increasing every day, so the introduction of cost effective aerial patrols will allow large areas to be covered for monitoring, routine patrols, information gathering and possibly reaction.   Encompassing a number of private game reserves and community reserves, this co-ordinated regional aerial effort will, I firmly believe, act as a deterrent and effective tool to combat this scourge.”

Lawrence Munro, Wildlife Investigations Officer for Zululand who is coordinating the project says that ZAP-Wing will provide ground surveillance from an aerial platform, to reduce wildlife poaching with a specific focus on rhino.   “Creating a multi-pronged approach to combating rhino poachers is the overall goal, with the aircraft serving to augment and assist ground-based anti-poaching teams when they are deployed on active duty and in volatile situations,” he stated.

A second light aircraft – Ezemvelo’s Bantam – has also been incorporated into the ZAP-Wing project to provide aerial surveillance for state-owned reserves in the region.   Regular aerial patrols, directed by coordinated intelligence will form the basis of the ZAP-Wing surveillance function.   The core group of dedicated pilots will ensure fast and efficient reaction to rhino security threats in private, state and community reserves alike.

A new cousin for Yenza the rhino and the eThekwini Community Foundation joins Project Rhino KZN

The eThekwini Community Foundation (eCF) is adding its voice to the global battle cry to preserve South Africa’s natural heritage and to this end has formally joined Project Rhino KZN, and has secured a second  community craft commission rhino (the first being Yenza) which will be sponsored by the U.S. Consulate in Durban and The Wildlands Conservation Trust.

The eCF is a proactive, not-for-profit public benefit organisation, strategically aligned to the eThekwini Municipality. “The preservation of much of our natural heritage is in crisis – personified by the ongoing rhino poaching tragedy,” says eCF director Kathryn Kure. “The rhino has become iconic and represents one diminishing species among many. As a Trust whose broad mission is interfacing people – projects – planet, we are aware of the need for a healthy symbiotic relationship between the country’s craft community and our natural heritage. For the crafters to continue to work there must be systems in place for the sustainability and careful monitoring of our flora and fauna. Traditional crafters typically harvest elements of natural heritage, for example wood, quills, grasses, illala palms and reeds. The reports of international syndicates who consider our resources to be fair game to be plundered, is alarming,” comments Kure.

“A key element in this fragile house-of-cards is the preservation of the rhino. The Foundation is doing everything in its power to support the rhino campaign. One of our great success stories this year was the commissioning and decorating of Yenza, a nearly life-size resin rhino, by a collective of crafters. Yenza has been much in demand and has played an instrumental role to create awareness around rhino poaching and conservation. We are delighted that a second rhino has been commissioned to be decorated,” said Kure.

When asked how they felt about their partnership with eCF and Wildlands, the US Consulate representative in Durban, Taylor Ruggles said, “The United States is working with the international community to combat the illegal trade in wildlife and promote conservation through a four pillar strategy, which includes diplomatic outreach, public diplomacy, training, and partnerships. The United States’ efforts with foreign governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector seek to reduce demand and strengthen wildlife and marine conservation, as well as related enforcement and institutional capabilities.”

The eThekwini Community Foundation has also been accepted as an associate member of Project Rhino KZN (www.projectrhinokzn.org) an association of like-minded organisations allowing collective co-ordination of rhino conservation interventions.  “We are excited about the many partnerships that are being formed for the sake of conserving our rhino and we sincerely hope that the increase in organisations working together will mean a decrease in the poaching statistics,” concluded Wildlands’ Kevin McCann.

A star studded evening truly reflecting an uBuntu Earth

On the 29th of November at the Durban City Hall a spectacular array of celebrities, highly successful businessmen and women, organisations and individuals gathered to show their support for Wildlands Conservation Trusts’ conservation work, including their popular ‘Rhino Parade’ campaign.

‘Rhino Parade’ aims to raise the funds required to support Wildlands’ rhino conservation projects whilst also raising awareness about the plight of our Rhino. The Durban Rhino Parade saw 4 significant South African celebrities step forward to endorse their very own rhino sculpture, which have been housed at King Shaka International Airport for the past few months.

Guests in attendance at the high profile event included ‘rhino ambassadors’ Pat Lambie, Shaun Pollock, Chad Le Clos and Ray Phiri, who also gave an unforgettable performance. The evening saw 20 lots being auctioned off including impressive accommodation packages, spectacular art pieces and of course, the 4 celebrity endorsed ¾ life size rhino sculptures.

Wildlands are actively trying to find long term solutions to environmental challenges, including the on-going rhino poaching onslaught. In this effort they are working closely with a number of other organisations to develop a co-ordinated and effective response.

The Wildlands response to this onslaught is structured around four complimentary strategies:

  • Supporting the establishment of a network of NGO’s working together to stop the poaching (Project Rhino KZN www.projectrhinokzn.org)
  • Project Rhino Tracker – Piloting innovative GSM based tracking technology.
  • Project Rhino Aerial Support – Complimentary helicopter surveillance.
  • Project Rhino Prosecutions and Investigations Support

The total amount of funds raised through the auction was bumped up significantly when ‘Rhino Army,’ (www.rhinoarmy.org) a merchandise partner of Wildlands, handed over a cheque to the trust for R150 000, specifically targeted at their Project Rhino Aerial Support and Project Rhino Investigations and Prosecutions Support projects.

The overall amount raised on the night was around R800 000 – a true reflection of the support and commitment Wildlands receive for the amazing work that they do.

The Wildlands’ Art for Conservation event was launched a few years ago as an event that involved top local artists and saw art pieces being donated and auctioned off to raise funds for conservation efforts. This year Wildlands combined this popular event with the ‘Rhino Parade’ rhino auction, with the intention to raise significant funding to be ploughed back into projects with a shared vision of a Sustainable Future for All.

Andrew Venter, CEO of Wildlands Conservation Trust, who also MC’d the event was completely blown away by the support, “it is so humbling to receive such incredible support for the work we are doing. We are particularly excited about the significant partnerships we are building, with the likes of Bonitas Medical Fund, Inhluzane Trust, Sunday Tribune and the eThekwini Community Foundation (eCF) being some of those, who all contributed to making this evening a record breaking fundraiser,” concluded Venter.