Eight adventurous, kind-hearted individuals spent the last five days of August walking through prime black rhino territory to raise much-needed funds for rhino conservation in South Africa. Rhino Trek South Africa 2010, was a joint effort by international NGO Save the Rhino and local NGO, the Wildlands Conservation Trust, taking trailists through the heart of black rhino country, in northern Zululand. Save the Rhino International organises adventures like these around the world raising funds and awareness of the dire situation facing the 5 species of rhino left on the planet.
The +- 65km walk through the Somkhanda and Zululand Rhino reserves was the first of its kind in the area. These two reserves were identified by the WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project as key habitat for black rhino and a series of releases over the past five years has seen the population grow, slowly, but significantly. The 8 trailists, (from the UK and South Africa) were lucky enough to spot 16 rhino during their 5 days of trekking, including 2 rather curious black rhino’s who got them walking a little faster than normal to move safely out the rhino’s territory.
The Walk
Trailists walked between 12 – 20k’s each day through varied terrain: rocky slopes, open grasslands and bushveld thickets. Think five days of walking in the wild: no cellphones, no laptops, siesta’s under the shade of acacia trees and nothing but the sounds of nature of lull you to sleep. The Wildlands logistics team set up camp each night and Somkhanda’s star chef cooked up a storm with authentic South African braai’s, potjies, stokbrood and marshmallows. Guides Paul Cryer and Dylan Holmes led the group safely through the bush and shared their stories and knowledge of the wildlife and history of the area. The reserves conservation managers, ecologists and experts also joined the group each evening around the fire to discuss some of the challenges facing the rhino populations in South Africa and the intricacies of running a reserve and managing its wildlife populations. Save the Rhino have also supported the anti-poaching units in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HIP) and trailists ended their trip with a visit to HIP to see first-hand where funds have been allocated.
For a cause
There are only around 4200 black rhino left in the world. The species was almost entirely wiped out in the 70’s after a wave of poaching left the numbers low enough to be placed on the CITES listing for endangered species, as ‘critically endangered’ – meaning that the species’ numbers have decreased or will decrease by 80% in the next three generations. With the current poaching statistics the white rhino might follow suit once again (white rhino were also saved from extinction, with numbers as low as 50 only 115 years ago). The death toll sits at 176 rhino poached this year (at time of writing) and there are predictions this will rise to over 300 by the end of the year. Although this does not pose an immediate threat to either population (black rhino have been buffered by the larger white rhino populations, reducing its vulnerability to poaching) – if it continues along the same vein for another few years, it will.
Funds from the Rhino Trek will be used to further support, resource and train the anti-poaching units, monitors and rangers responsible for the protection of the rhino populations in the parks. Although neither ZRR or Somkhanda have experienced any rhino poaching instances yet, they know it could be just a matter of time.
For more information or to make a financial contribution to rhino conservation in these reserves contact Simone Dale at the Wildlands Conservation Trust on 033 343 6380 or
e-mailsimoned@localhost/import-data-post.
The poaching problem and how YOU can help
The poaching and illegal trafficking of rhino horn is fuelled by a high demand… a demand for a drug that has been proved scientifically does not work. In a statement issued by Save the Rhino, Director Cathy Dean said: “The most absurd thing in the whole sorry saga of rhino poaching is that rhino horn does not actually work! It is used by TCM practitioners supposedly to bring down fevers, when an aspirin would do the job and much more cheaply. Some Vietnamese people apparently believe that rhino horn cures cancer. It doesn’t. It’s made of keratin, the same protein that is found on our hair and nails. If you want to try it out, chew someone else’s toenails: don’t poach a rhino.”
Tackling this demand along with border control, judiciary systems, and local and international policing of these crimes is perhaps beyond the general public’s control. What is in your control however is spreading the word and keeping in it in the media – by buying the publications featuring these stories. You can also help by providing financial support for our tireless anti-poaching units and local reserves to resource, up-skill and reward their rangers. DONATE NOW
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)