Founding Statement
“Project Rhino KZN is an association of like-minded organisations facilitating rhino
conservation interventions aimed at eliminating rhino poaching and securing the white
and black rhino populations of KwaZulu-Natal.
The members of Project Rhino KZN recognise that the work in conserving and
protecting rhinos from the threat of poaching is symbolic of the broader threat faced
by all wildlife, and that all wildlife will benefit from actions taken by Project Rhino KZN.
The association is also aware that the poaching of rhino is symptomatic of the overall,
bigger conservation & environmental crises facing South Africa and its neighbours.”
STOP WILDLIFE CRIME
Background
Est. 22 September 2011 by the
KwaZulu-Natal conservation
community.
Voluntary association representative of:
• 16 Founding Members:
• Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
(provincial government
conservation agency)
• 11 leading Conservation NGOs
• 3 premier Private Game
Reserves
• Anti-poaching security group
representing 11 private reserves
• 2 Associate Members
• 19 private & community reserves
• 5 Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Reserves
(Zululand)
FOUNDING MEMBERS
• Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
• African Conservation Trust
• Black Rhino Range Expansion
Project (WWF)
• Game Rangers Association of
Africa
• Magqubu Ntombela Foundation
• Phinda Private Game Reserve (&
Beyond)
• Space for Elephants
• Thanda Foundation
• Thanda Private Game Reserve
• WESSA
• Wildlife ACT Fund
• Wildlands Conservation Trust
• Wilderness Action Group
• Wilderness Foundation
• Zululand Rhino Reserve
• Zululand Wildlife Security Initiative
(ZWSI)
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
• eThekweni Community Foundation
• The Lawrence Anthony Earth
Organisation
PRIVATE & COMMUNITY RESERVES
1. Eskhoteni
2. Falaza Game Park
3. H&H Ranch
4. Hluhluwe Farms Conservancy
5. Kube Yini
6. KwaZulu Private Game Reserve
7. Mahlalela Game Reserve
8. Mduna Royal Reserve
(community-owned)
9. Phinda Private Reserve
10.Pongola Game Reserve - North
11.Pongola Game Reserve - East
12.Somkhanda Community Game
Reserve (community-owned)
13.Sungulwana Game Reserve
14.Thanda Private Game Reserve
15.Ubizane
16.Zimanga Game Reserve
17.Zuka
18.Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve
19.Zululand Rhino Reserve
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Reserves
1. Hluhluwe-Mfolozi Park
2. Tembe Elephant Park
3. Ndumo Game Reserve
4. Ithala Game Reserve
5. iSimangaliso Wetland Park, incl
Mkhuze Game Reserve
OBJECTIVES AND FOCAL AREAS – ACROSS KZN:
1. Improve:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Intelligence capabilities – information & informant networks
Surveillance - both traditional & new technologies (aerial etc)
Field ranger competency - equipment & training
Advocacy - legal expertise
Community awareness & support - education & outreach
Coordination & communication - conservation sector, public, media, stakeholders
2. Reduce duplication in:
•
•
•
•
Rhino-focussed projects & anti-poaching activities
Resources/equipment for game reserves & anti-poaching teams
Fundraising & media appeals for support
Public/donor confusion on who to support; prevent ‘fly-by-nights’ from siphoning funds away from genuine
NGOs and sanctioned rhino protection / anti-poaching efforts
3. Implement:
•
•
•
Region-wide anti-poaching strategies to benefit large populations of rhino across several game reserves
Centralised equipment and resource support
Collective fundraising and media strategies
4. Create:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A common vision for KZN’s rhino conservation sector
A united front for KZN against poaching and wildlife crime in general
Credibility with donors, public and external stakeholders
Centralised platform for fundraising, events and partnerships
Centralised communications hub to media, public, government & external stakeholders
Space for information sharing, relationship building, sharing of skills & experience
Culture of learning and innovation: reporting, benchmarking, new thinking
COLLECTIVE ACTIVITIES & PROJECTS
NB: each member continues to manage their own specific rhino conservation and counter-poaching
efforts as well as give input & support to the wider Project Rhino KZN activities
1. Effective coordination
• Encouraging cooperation between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, conservation NGOs and
private game reserves in the province
• Improving information-sharing and intelligence gathering efforts
• Management of group via dedicated Secretariat, monthly meetings & reporting and
adherence to financial governance, transparency and accountability ethics.
2. Equipment & Resources for APU teams & game reserves
• R660,000 Asset Register (to date): from funds donated to Project Rhino KZN
Includes: APU camp equipment, mobile solar power sites, water tanks, quad bikes, thermalimaging cameras, first aid kits, camera traps, cyber-trackers, binoculars, chest webbing,
handcuffs, spotlights, rechargeable torches, ground-to-air radios
• 14 game reserves / APU teams directly equipped
3. Community Relations – reaching hearts & minds
• Kingsley Holgate Izintaba Zobombo expedition + community education/awareness
using Rhino art & soccer competitions
• 300 schools – 30,000 children reached in South Africa, Mozambique & Swaziland
• 5,000 Rhino artworks collected to date – rural children’s voices
• Improved relations with communities bordering game reserves, and also with rhino
conservation leaders down the entire South Africa/Mozambique/Swaziland border.
Activities & Projects cont.
4. The Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing
(partnership btw Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, private reserves,
NGOs and donors)
• 2 x fully owned light aircraft, 2 x helicopters on
contract
• Whole of northern KZN receiving aerial antipoaching support (24 reserves +200,000ha)
• Daily aerial patrols plus reaction support in cases
of rhino poachings
• Joint operations with law enforcement agencies
(SAPS, Hawks, rhino security groups)
• Full-time Project Coordinator & chief pilot, 3
reserve pilots + 3 helicopter pilots
• Fully equipped operational air-base
• Bateleurs’ support for additional needs
• Signs of impact seen: arrests, recovery of
weapons, reduction in poaching incursions,
community awareness.
5. GIS Spatial Intelligence and Analysis
(partnership with eThekwini Municipality)
• Utilizing geo-spatial analysis and intelligence
skills to map and interrogate poaching activities
through time and space
• Adding value to existing intelligence and
counter-poaching efforts of APUs, reserves and
law enforcement agencies.
Activities & Projects cont.
6. Blythe Loutit Legal Advisory Fund (new)
Senior attorneys, advocates & forensic experts provide legal
expertise & support to Investigation Officers & State Prosecutors to
improve Court convictions and sentencing of rhino poachers & their
affiliates:
•
•
•
•
•
Attendance at crime scenes to ensure evidence is properly collected
Assist investigators in compiling Dockets
‘Watching Brief’ - assistance to the Prosecution during legal proceedings to
reduce Court postponements and ‘delaying tactics’ of defence attorneys
Institute civil action against poachers for damages suffered as a result of the
loss of rhino
Lobbying Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the Department of Justice
and other Government Departments to increase penalties for rhino
poaching
7. Other
• Facilitated Informant Fund for private & community reserves
• Training: Advanced Field Ranger & Crime Scene Management
• Improving communication between game reserves = better
security coordination
• Direct support in event of a poaching (actual or attempted);
sharing of resources & personnel
• Midlands/Berg, & central KZN reserves coming on board
Funding Mechanisms
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ACT Rhino Fund (main)
Business & general public
Strategic partnerships
Trusts/Foundations
Major donors/supporters
Media partners
Fundraising events/campaigns
International donors
Members’ efforts
Financial governance & accountability
provided by African Conservation Trust
(nominated Founding Member)
– registered NPO with SARS PBO/18A Tax
Exemption Status and annual Audited
Financial Statements .
AWARDS
2013: Winner – Rhino Rescue Award
Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Awards
2012: Finalist – Best NGO
Rhino Conservation Awards