A partnership between the Wildlands Conservation Trust, Thanda Private Game Reserve and Nelson Mandela Square, has inspired the combination of a unique fund raising event with the implementation of a project to improve the security of the rhino at Thanda Private Game Reserve and the associated Mduna Royal Reserve in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal. A “Find the Rhino – Save the Rhino” competition, involving clues and a rhino statue strategically hidden inside different shops, was held at Nelson Mandela Square in November – December 2011, and the overall prize of a rhino darting experience was won by Mr Peter Rice.
The darting is part of the Wildlands’ Project Rhino Tracker project. The aim of this conservation project was to capture and fit as many rhino as possible with the latest tracking equipment, in many cases to allow the remote tracking of rhino populations.
On the 18th of May, Peter Rice and 5 of his friends (all inclusive of this prize) spent three nights at Thanda Private Game Reserve and participated in this valuable conservation exercise. Rhino were captured at Thanda, and adjoining Mduna Royal Reserve by a wildlife vet and game capture helicopter operator, and were fitted with a range of tracking devices, from satellite transmitters to UHF GPS data loggers and VHF telemetry units, with assistance from Wildlife ACT staff.
Rhino were also notched in order to better identify individual animals in the future, DNA samples were taken and transponders were inserted into the horns. “This will allow the management staff at the reserves to monitor the rhino more efficiently and effectively, adding a layer of extra security to the rhino populations,” commented Wildlands’ Kevin McCann. “This is critical in light of the recent rhino poaching upsurge, and is a response to try and secure existing populations on private and communal land. By knowing where all the rhino are on a daily basis, anti-poaching units can ensure they respond more efficiently to any issues with the rhino. Wildlands would like to thank Nelson Mandela Square and Thanda Private Game Reserve for contributing to this project, which will go a long way to ultimately securing our rhino.”
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)