Support Mounted Rangers Fighting Rhino Poaching

We would like to once again thank all our donors and partners who continue to support the work of Project Rhino and those on the frontline of the rhino poaching crisis.

The South African Department of Environmental Affairs released the national rhino poaching figures at the beginning of the year, revealing that a staggering 7,694 rhino have been poached in South Africa since the start of the crisis in 2010. Whilst we are pleased that the national figure is 259 fewer than 2017, the number of incursions has remained the same – 2,620 (recorded) incursions – meaning that the attack on our rhino has not decreased and the critical role of security initiatives like canine & horse units cannot be over emphasised.

It has been a busy start to the year for the horse units across the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). We must send a huge thank you to Global Conservation Force (based in the USA) and Roxane Losey in particular, who have provided phenomenal support to a number of partner reserves. Roxane has visited and assessed horse units, provided equipment, training for riders and expert advice. GCF is also helping to establish a brand new horse unit (from scratch) at Loziba in northern KZN, including building stables and paddocks. Huge thank you to BroPolo for sponsoring two horses for the new unit - we are sure it will make an immense difference in the protection of their rhino, and other wildlife.

We would also like to thank LA Zoo for the donation of deworming medication, Unicorn Tack for offering us a wonderful discount on riding equipment, and LulaRoe for their donation of clothing as well as activity books for school children in conjunction with Rhino Art. Epol has been a fantastic supporter and is sponsoring food for the horse unit at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi. Thank you, we would not be able to sustain these invaluable units without you!

We believe that these horse units are making a huge difference in the war against wildlife crime, as they allow mounted rangers to cover far more area than on foot and get much closer to wildlife for monitoring purposes. We hope that 2019 brings even more conservation success.

Dear friends and supporters

A short update on what has been happening with the brave horse unit teams.

The fencing at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HiP) is in its final stages and the new paddock now provides welcome space for exercise and relaxation of the horses – away from the threat of big game and predators.

HiP is KZN’s flagship reserve and has been targeted in recent years by organised crime and wildlife trafficking syndicates; this has placed enormous pressure on Park custodians, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, and their field rangers on the ground. The horse unit is one of many anti-poaching and resource management strategies that the Park has adopted to protect their rhino.

GlobalGiving donations were also used to assist Spioenkop Game Reserve (in the KZN Midlands) with 40 bales of hay as additional food for their horses during the final winter months, when food resources in the veld were scarce. We are most grateful to Epol and RCL Foods who has assisted by sponsoring Epol cubes for the HiP Horse unit in the upcoming months.

Project Rhino coordinator, Chris Galliers, met with a number of horse units at reserves in Zululand and in the Midlands over the last quarter. The most critical needs identified were:

• Training for rangers – some have little experience in riding horses, whilst those experienced riders require training in how to deal with poaching incursions, tracking, evidence collection and reaction (often in life threatening situations).
• Training for grooms, to ensure that the horses remain fit and healthy.
• New / updated riding kit – much of the existing kit is second hand, or on its last legs. Whilst community reserves lack even basic kit like helmets and saddle blankets.
• Basic veterinary care, including fly spray and tick prevention.

A surprise when visiting the Spioenkop horse unit was that a number of mares were heavily pregnant after an energetic stallion found his way into the stables. Our veterinary care bill now includes his sterilization. You win some, you lose some!

Once again, our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters who have been so generous toward our cause by donating, and sharing our message. Please remember to follow our social media pages for updates on the horse unit and other Project Rhino projects.