ABOUT KARIEGA FOUNDATION
Kariega Foundation is the conservation arm of Kariega Game Reserve, home to the world famous miracle poaching survivor Thandi in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Thandi was one of three rhinos poached in March 2012 and the only survivor. Since that horrific night Thandi has made a miraculous recovery and has gone on to have five calves.
Kariega Foundation was established to enhance the well-being of local communities through enterprise development, education and youth development; and to be united in its efforts to protect and conserve the natural heritage of the Eastern Cape, particularly the Kariega wilderness.
The Foundation delivers education programmes to the local villages, including school lectures and activities enjoyed by the whole community. It also supports wildlife protection activities such as anti-poaching operations, including ranger units and dog patrols.
THE CHALLENGE
Keeping the rhinos safe, secure and protected is a key mission of both Kariega Game Reserve and the Kariega Foundation. Their Save the Rhino initiative focuses on the implementation of a multi-layered rhino protection which provides the best possible anti-poaching and protection methods across the Reserve and is an ongoing priority.
Yet, while the successful wildlife protection initiatives mean rhino and other wildlife populations increase, securing expanded habitats in the area to keep them all safe requires implementing a habitat expansion project. In the Eastern Cape, this incorporates a section of richly biodiverse land in the Bushmans River Valley into Kariega Game Reserve ensuring the conservation of approximately 18 kilometres of the Bushman’s River tidal estuary, range expansion and additional carrying capacity for elephant, white and black rhino, as well the opportunity for the reintroduction of additional apex predators such as the endangered cheetah.
Habitat protection and expansion is perhaps the most important conservation objective of our time. The Eastern Cape of South Africa is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and it is essential that we significantly increase the protected area footprint of this province and create the opportunity for connected conservation and wildlife corridors to support growing populations of wild animals and the socio-economic well being of local people. The Kariega Foundation is proud to partner with Helping Rhinos on this and many other projects.
OUR IMPACT
Helping Rhinos runs the exclusive adoption programme for Thandi and her family, including her youngest calf, Zolani who was born in April 2023. Funds raised through the adoption programme are used to support the community projects and the work of the Kariega anti-poaching unit.
In addition, Helping Rhinos supports the Kariega Foundation with the production of education materials for use in outreach programmes being run in the communities surrounding Kariega.
Each of the collaborative community projects run and supported by the Kariega Foundation are planned and implemented in the following way to ensure a legacy of sustainability, accountability, empowerment and community pride:
Community members initiate projects and offer their skills and resources. These usually include abilities, enthusiasm, leadership, planning, strategic thinking, problem solving and other physical resources.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Donate
to enable us to keep protecting rhino and their habitat, and inspiring communities.
By choosing a monthly donation, you will have a greater impact,
helping to protect rhino in their natural habitat.
We are truly grateful for every gift we receive – THANK YOU.
To donate in USD or EURO, please visit our DONATE page.