An ambitious programme to put every threatened rhino in South Africa under constant and potentially life-saving global positioning satellite (GPS) protection is moving up a gear.
Encouraged by results of a pilot programme in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where poaching has ceased after new technology transmitter implants were inserted into the horns of living rhino, South African charity the Wildlands Conservation Trust (Wildlands) next plans to expand GPS rhino protection throughout the Zululand Conservation Corridor – home to more than 160 rhino.
Its Project Rhino programme launches in the UK this month with a special Christies auction in South Kensington on June 12, offering a stellar collection of world-class African getaways to raise funds for the 24-hour GPS monitoring system.
Supported by Investec UK, the June 12 event will include a private view of the animal bronzes of Johannesburg-born sculptor, Dylan Lewis. Dylan’s work is on exhibition at Christies from the 10th – 16th of June and includes the last of his life size black rhinos
On auction will be a selection of world-class South African getaways – including a once in a lifetime rhino darting experience, dinner with the elephant whisperer, Lawrence Anthony, a wilderness trail, and five nights in the award-winning Thanda Private Game Reserve – as well as a stunning bespoke 18-carat gold ring embellished with black, cognac and white diamonds by South African designer Kirsten Goss, who also has a studio in London.
Wildlands CEO, Dr Andrew Venter spelt out the gravity of the situation. In 2010 333 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa, including 10 critically endangered black rhinos,? he said. ?This is a frightening statistic considering that South Africa provides sanctuary to 76% of the world’s rhino population. With more than 140 rhino already slaughtered this year, Wildlands wants the auction to keep rhino in hearts and minds worldwide.
Tony Conway, Member of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group and Chair of the KwaZulu-Natal Rhino Management Group described the sophisticated methods leading to the current poaching crisis: Poaching is being driven from a higher level now. Normal patrolling methods are being overcome by the use of helicopters with immobilising drugs, and vets and professional hunters have become involved.
A huge effort has to go into minimising this poaching, utilising new monitoring technologies and increasing man power.
The poaching also extracts a human toll, affecting communities who have invested their land and resources to build a better future through conservation and tourism. A graphic example is the Gumbi community and their Somkhanda Community Game Reserve, who lost two white rhino within the space of seven days in November 2010.But the new GPS monitoring system could prove a lifeline. In January this year, Wildlands installed the monitoring system in Somkhanda and since the system was activated, there has been no other poaching activity in the reserve.
The chip is linked to a secure closed radio network that is housed within the reserve and communicates through cell phone networks to a server. This chip can detect conditions of movement which will alert the reserve manager (via sms) of any unusual activity and he can then respond accordingly with the anti-poaching unit. The exact GPS location of every rhino fitted with one of these chips, can be tracked on a secure web-based interface any moment of the day.
Pioneering Conservationist, Dr Ian Player, in an emotional video to promote the project and raise funds locally and abroad for its expansion, said his life had been linked with rhino.I remember the very first day that I saw them in iMfolozi Game reserve, it was a very misty day and these two great grey beasts came out of the mist, really prehistoric animals, and if it’s possible to fall in love with an animal, I fell in love with those rhino, he said. I get very distressed at the savagery of the killing and the barbaric methods they use, digging into the skull just to take out a tiny stub, of a live rhino! It?s unforgivable, what sort of a human being allows that to happen?
Many thanks to all our South African sponsors, we could not have done it without them: South African supporters of the event include: Dylan Lewis Studios, Kirsten Goss Studios, the eLan Group, Thanda Private Game Reserve, Thula Thula, Three Cities, Intrepid Printers, JustDesign, Litha Communications, Moreson Wine, Whalleys and Meropa.
For more information and to make an absentee bid on any of the lots, please contact Simone Dale on 033 343 6380 / 082 421 4418 or e-mail simoned@localhost/import-data-post or click on the Predators and Prey event listing on www.localhost/import-data-post
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)