Eyes in the Sky

South Africa is home to 73% of the world’s rhinos and yet shockingly, on average, one rhino is killed every day by poachers. Rhino populations in key strongholds like the Kruger National Park have fallen by as much as 59% since 2013. With fewer rhinos to target in the large expanse of the Kruger NP, as well as concerted protection efforts there, criminal syndicates have simply moved their illegal activities elsewhere. Reported poaching stats by South Africa’s Department of the Environment, continue to make grim reading with 259 rhinos killed in the first six months of 2022.

Poaching syndicates are indiscriminate and will exploit any opportunity to plunder Africa’s extraordinary wildlife. Protection is becoming increasingly expensive and not all reserves can meet the huge responsibility of keeping these iconic animals safe.

Helping Rhinos, in partnership with the African Rhino Conservation Collaboration (ARCC), is helping to secure rhino strongholds in the Eastern Cape, by funding an ‘Eyes in the Sky’ aerial surveillance programme that monitors and patrols more than 40,000 hectares over several rhinos reserves in the area.

The consistent presence of a small plane in the air over game reserves offers a significant deterrent to potential poachers, improves deployment of foot patrols, and enables faster incident response. The “Bantom” plane, a light sport aircraft, is commonly used for this purpose due to low fuel consumption, cheap running costs and the ability to fly low and slow. This capacity also makes it ideal for ecological monitoring of small game reserves, including game counts and vegetation surveys.

The fixed-wing aircraft is piloted by Siseko Mayinje, a local game ranger, now registered pilot, who was born and raised in the local community. Siseko also pilots a newly introduced state-of-the-art drone, adding to the surveillance and monitoring potential in the area.

The flying time of the fixed-wing aircraft is currently 30 hours per calendar month and is proving hugely beneficial. Given the recent increase in poaching incidents in the Eastern Cape, there is an urgency to increase the fixed wing flying time to 40 hours or more, over the next twelve-month period. The effectiveness of any additional time will be carefully monitored and assessed.

Helping Rhinos has been investing in rhino conservation in the Eastern Cape for ten years, having recognised the tremendous potential for rhino population expansion, given the area’s unique floral and fauna diversity. Eight Southern African biomes and two Global Biodiversity Hotspots come together to form an intricate ecological mosaic. These ecosystems, secured, expanded and protected from biodiversity loss and the effects of climate change, have the potential to sustain healthy, viable rhino populations (as well as a myriad of other wildlife), a vision Helping Rhinos shares with its Partners in the field including the African Rhino Conservation Collaboration (ARCC) and the Kariega Foundation. Progress however, desperately requires us to tackle the latest poaching threats to the area, and funding is critical.

It currently costs $22,150 to fly the aircraft for 30 hours per month, per year.
Increasing the flying time to 40 hours per month, per year will cost $28,200, an increase of $6,050 per year. The additional 10 hours flying time per calendar month, per year includes:

• Additional Pilot flying time, salary and insurance,
• Additional fuel costs
• Contribution to aircraft registration, insurance and maintenance
• Contribution to Pilot ongoing training and development
• Small contingency in case of rising fuel prices