“WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS,
WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN.”
DAVID BROWER

SUPPORT The RIGHTS FOR RHINOS Project

In order to reach as many South Africans as possible, Sboniso and Paul plan to walk from Musina in Northern Province.

White and Black Rhinoceros have long been persecuted for their horns – especially as these are believed to contain valuable medicinal properties. In South Africa, we have the largest populations of both species left in the World. We largely owe this to pioneer Conservationists like Dr Ian Player, Maqubu Ntombela and countless other dedicated conservationists. From as early as 1895, there were only a few White Rhino left in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, in northern Zululand. Thankfully, through their pioneering Rhino Capture techniques, Dr Player and his team managed to not only increase the number of Rhino in the Park, but also capture and relocate animals to other areas -previously decimated by unscrupulous hunters. The success of this and many subsequent operations, led to the eventual re-establishment of both species in our country.

Should you require more information, make a donation or wish to support this project in some
other way, please contact us.

Rhinos constitute one of the highly-regarded “Big 5” of African wildlife tourism, which includes elephants, lions, leopards and the Cape buffalo. Unfortunately, although South Africa is home to approximately 21,000 rhinos, more than any other country in the world, Black rhinos are currently listed as critically endangered – with only about 4,200 remaining in existence.

Since 2007, the number of rhinos killed in South Africa has risen sharply from 13 to 87 in 2008! A year later, figures again rose to an alarming 12 kills. 2010 however, was the worst year in the Country’s history, which saw 333 animals slaughtered for their horns. And unfortunately in 2011, the country is once again heading for catastrophe, with a total of 66 animals having been killed so far. Halting the current wave of poaching is going to prove extremely difficult and if unsuccessful the hard-won population increases achieved by conservation authorities during the 20th century will be completely reversed.

Halting these killers will not prove easy; especially as in their bid to avoid law enforcement, these sophisticated poachers are using ‘high-tech’ gear, including night-vision equipment, veterinary tranquilizers, silencers and helicopters. If not stopped in its tracks, South Africa’s Rhino populations will soon fade to critically low levels, and again be pushed to the point of extinction.

Adding to the vulnerability of the rhino is the ‘heightened’ demand for rhino horn, which has long been prized as an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine. More recently it has also been claimed to possess cancer-curing properties; although there is no evidence to support these claims.

Only a concerted and unified national response by law enforcement agencies, government departments and local communities will provide these magnificent animals with a realistic chance to halt this massacre.

Paul Jennings was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa in 1982, where he matriculated in 1988. He subsequently enrolled at Pretoria Technikon and obtained a National Diploma in Nature Conservation.

Having worked for the Natal Parks Board for a number of years as a student, he spent his early days patrolling the Eastern Shores of the Isimangaliso St Lucia Wetland Park, where he focused predominantly on Black Rhino monitoring, anti-poaching and leading wilderness trails. Later Paul moved across to Ithala Game Reserve, where as a member of the Anti Poaching Unit he spent many hours monitoring Rhino in their natural habitat. From Ithala, Paul transferred to Umkhuze Game Reserve to lead their famous Bushveld trails, before moving back into the anti-poaching field.

Wanting to expand his horizons, he moved to Beachwood Mangroves and the Durban North Conservation zone.

Having spent almost a year a there, a vacancy arose within the world-renowned Game Capture Unit, as the Rhino Capture officer in charge. He jumped at the opportunity and spent the next 7 years travelling around the Province, and the Country, capturing and delivering Rhino and other game species for relocation. During this time, Paul became acutely aware of the plight of some of his charges –in particular how many of these Rhino were being killed for their horns. The methods used are often exceptionally cruel and the animals suffer immense pain before dying of their wounds.

Having witnessed the slaughter first-hand, Paul decided early this year that something had to be done. “The world has to be educated about the plight of the rhino and how important it is for mankind to be a part of conservation efforts to save these beautiful animals,” says Paul.

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Sboniso Phakathi was born in rural Kwazulu- Natal in 1988. In the early years of his life he moved in with his grandmother in Scottsville, where he attended school. In 2006 Sboniso matriculated from Martizburg College, and travelled for two years.

He worked on for a private establishment in the Seychelles and later delivered yachts in Europe. Upon his return to South Africa in 2008, he started working for a company in Hoedspruit called Protrack. He worked in their anti-poaching unit, based on Manyeleti reserve and slept in the bush while on 16-day antipoaching patrols. In 2009 he took over Protrack’s public relations endeavours; writing articles and press releases for the company.

In 2010 he enrolled at UNISA to start a BA degree in Political Leadership while continuing his public relations work with Protrack.

In early 2010, after Sboniso and his Protrack colleagues became acutely aware of the sudden and rampant increase in Rhino poaching, they formed the ‘Hoedspruit rhino watch.’ The unit’s main role is to carry out as many presence and visible patrols as it can.

Early in 2011, Sboniso attended his first rhino autopsy on a farm in the area. The heart-wrenching sight made him realize that he wants to reach as many people as possible to make them understand how pointless rhino killings are – and how many Rhinos are still paying the price. He also expressed his wish to actively engage with young people on the issue: “We need to get more youth involved in raising awareness about what’s happening to our common heritage,” he said.