Our Impact – Protect

Tracking Devices

We’ve Funded: £70,000

Where: South Africa

Following the successful fitting of tracking collars in 2012, in conjunction with Wildlife vet Dr William Fowlds from the African Rhino Conservation Collaboration (ARCC), we have continued to fit tracking devices to rhinos int he Eastern Cape.

These collars will enable the regions anti-poaching units to effectively monitor their rhinos and ensure that their teams are positioned in the next possible locations to keep their rhinos safe.

In addition we have supported the pilot schemes of new tracking technology to ensure we are always staying one step ahead of the poachers.

Helping Rhinos will continue to support the protection of rhinos across all our projects with the fitting of tracking devices when it is appropriate.

Mobile Vet Unit

We’ve Funded: £75,000

Where: Kenya

The mobile vet unit is based at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya and assists with the timely treatment of wildlife, including the rhino and other endangered species.

The vehicle also allows the vet team to visit local communities to treat domestic animals, including carrying out regular rabies and distemper vaccinations. This increases the positive relationship between the communities and the Conservancy.

We were able to fund the purchase and fitting of the mobile vet unit thanks to the generosity of people who attended our 2018 Spring Talk in Westminster, everyone who bid on our auction and a grant received from the Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust.

Orphan Leko

We’ve Funded: £28,000

Where: South Africa

In April 2021 a new orphan was admitted to the Zululand Rhino Orphanage. He was just 2 days old and extremely traumatised.

He needed urgent veterinary care milk feeds every two hours if he was to have any chance of surviving. This all comes at a significant cost, but the Helping Rhinos supporters responded. One long time supporter made a sizeable donation that would help Little Guy get through the first weeks with everything he needed. In return, she chose the name Inkululeko, or Leko for short. His name means Freedom in Zulu.

Rhino Orphan Rescue & Care

We’ve Funded: £200,000

Where: South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal saw a dramatic increase in poaching in 2022. The region has surpassed Kruger national Park as the global hotspot of poaching. Helping Rhinos works in close partnership with the Zululand Rhino Orphanage, the only dedicated rhino rescue and rehabilitation centre in the region.

2022 saw an 800% increase in the number of orphans being cared for at the orphanage by our dedicated team.

With poaching in the area looking like it will continue to rise int he short term, your support has never been more important. With kind and generous donations we have been able to provide milk, medications and veterinary care to all the new arrivals.

Rhino Protection

We’ve Funded: £240,000

Where: Kenya

Helping Rhinos continues to proudly partner with Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to the largest population of eastern black rhino in the world and the last two northern white rhino on the planet.

The northern white rhino is one of the most threatened animals in the world, with the two remaining individuals – two females named Najin and Fatu, residing at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

East Africa has experienced a severe drought over recent years and the impact on both wildlife and the local communities has been severe. Supplementary feed was required to be given to the endangered species, such as the rhino, to ensure the animals survived the most challenging of times.

Thanks to Helping Rhinos’ supporters we were able to keep security patrols operational and ensure the rhinos received the quantity of daily feed that was required to keep them thriving and breeding.

Eyes in the Sky

We’ve Funded: £24,000

Where: South Africa

Helping Rhinos fully funds the Eyes in the Sky project with our partner the African Rhino Conservation Collaboration (ARCC).

Pilot Siseko Mayinje is from the local community and patrols a number of private Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Siseko’s patrols provide a visual deterrent to poachers from his fixed wing aircraft during the day, while at night Siseko pilots the Eyes in the Sky drone with its state-of-the-art night vision camera.

Siseko’s patrols and drone have proved to be a valuable tool in the region’s fight to keep their rhinos safe from poachers.

Thanks to the generosity of Helping Rhinos’ supporters, we have been able to fully fund the running costs and flying time of Siseko and the Eye’s in the Sky Programme, protecting countless rhino from poaching attempts.

Purchase of a new Aerial Patrol Plane

We’ve Funded: £41,000

Where: South Africa

Helping Rhinos has fully funded the purchase of a new aerial patrol plane, for use as part of the Eyes in the Sky project with our partner the African Rhino Conservation Collaboration (ARCC).

This plane is an invaluable tool in the protection of rhino. Aerial patrols have proven to act as a strong deterrent to poachers on the ground.

This new plane gives pilot Siseko, the tools needed to respond quickly to emergency alerts and patrol vast areas of dense bush effectively and efficiently. This is something that would not be possible on the ground.

Helping Rhinos have been able to fund the purchase of this plane thanks to the generosity and commitment of our supporters.

Black Mambas

We’ve Funded: £75,000

Where: South Africa

The Black Mambas are the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit. In 2022, with funding from Helping Rhinos, a new specialist team was founded to focus on pro-active crime-prevention on the landscapes of Greater Kruger National Park.

Members of the Crime Prevention Unit were selected from over 200 applications and the successful candidates were jointly chosen after a screening process by our fitness partners, the local tribal authorities and our senior Black Mambas.

The team went through a comprehensive six week training programme which included learning skills in both para-military exercises and wildlife management.

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