Project Rhino K9 Unit: Defending African Wildlife

Thank you so much for your generous donations to the Project Rhino K9 Unit! We are most grateful for your support and feel privileged that you selected our project out of so many wonderful causes.

The brave rangers and dogs of the K9 tracking and detection units are called on at all times of the day and night and all kinds of weather conditions. Over the last three months the duties of the the K9 Tracking Unit included:

• A call out by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (poaching threat),
• Thanda Game Reserve (shots fired),
• Thula Thula Game Reserve (poaching incident),
• Manyoni Game Reserve (poaching threat).

The Detection Unit was called out to Mun Ya Wana Reserve to assist with the apprehension of eight suspects and six vehicles at the Mhlosinga control gate and assisted at numerous police roadblocks. The Manyoni incursion also resulted with canine,"Mali” searching a homestead in the Mkuze area.

Our K9 Unit was also present during the Manyoni Rhino Ride (mountain biking event) to assist with the security during the race, as well as creating awareness to the public about rhino conservation.

In addition to our generous GlobalGiving donors, we would like to thank Duncan Paul, Neil and Shenley Cairns, Wissing Estate and WESSA KZN for their generous donations to the project over the last three months. Thank you also to MSD Animal Health who provides the dogs with Bravecto to ensure that they stay in good health and are tick free.

Julia Nicholson and her team from “Blankets for Baby Rhino” have been amazing in handcrafting blankets for each dog in the K9 unit, as well as a blanket and beanie for each dog handler, to make sure our team is warm and looked after in the cold winter months.

In addition to our immediate logistical needs, we are currently fundraising for a new K9 Complex in Hluhluwe, which will provide on-site accommodation for the handlers and which will be shared with the members of the ZAP-Wing aerial patrol /surveillance team to allow for rapid response. Follow our social media pages for updates.

“The Project Rhino K9-Unit is proving one of the most effective programmes for deterring poachers and preventing wildlife crime in the game reserves of northern KZN. I am proud to be part of such a dedicated, hardworking team.” (Eric Dickson, K9-Unit coordinator)