Wildlife Conservation South Africa Project #14141

Protect and Save the life of Our Rhinos

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | Nov 29, 2016
Karongwe's New Anti-Poaching Vehicle!

By Richard Wilks | GVI Limpopo, Base Manager

Our New Vehicle!

Dear Supporters,

The Problem

Since 2008 poachers have killed at least 5,940 African rhinos…

Rhino poaching is currently at a crisis point. By the end of 2015, the number of African rhinos killed by poachers had increased for the sixth year in a row with at least 1,338 rhinos killed by poachers across Africa in 2015 with the vast majority of these poaching incidents occurring in South Africa. If this merciless slaughter continues rhino will be extinct by the year 2040.

The current poaching epidemic is attributed to the growing demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, mainly Vietnam and China. Vietnam has been identified as the largest user country of rhino horn. Although rhino horn has no scientific medical benefits, consumers are using it to treat a wide range of conditions, from cancer to hangovers, and due to its high value it is now also used as a status symbol by wealthy individuals. The high price fetched for the horn has attracted the involvement of ruthless criminal syndicates who use high-tech equipment to track down and kill the rhinos.

The Solution

Karongwe is one of the few private game reserves in South Africa who preserves the white rhino. Reserves who choose to accommodate these magnificent creatures do so with great responsibility. Law states that an anti-poaching unit must be active within any area containing rhino, a necessity due to the incredibly high demand for their horn. The anti-poaching team on Karongwe never sleeps. Their patrols run 24 hours a day 7 days a week, as the risk of intruders is constant, surprisingly even during the day.

The addition of this new vehicle to their patrols enables the unit to send an extra set of eyes and ears out on the reserve every day. It is this presence that assists in deterring poachers from initially entering the reserve as well as detecting their presence earlier if they have already penetrated the fence.

Not only is this vehicle a fantastic asset to the anti-poaching unit, it also reiterates a positive relationship with reserve management and landowners alike. It is contributions such as these that prove our commitment to a shared goal, the conservation of this unique endangered species.

Thank you for making it possible for us to increase our mobility in Karongwe!

With Gratitude,
GVI South Africa

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Sep 9, 2016
A full-moon fundraiser

By Leah Brown | GVI Limpopo, Assistant Base Manager

Enjoying a cooling mud bath!

Dear Supporters,

Your commitment to help us protect our white rhinos through your generous donations has not gone unnoticed. We have unfortunately not quite reached our target yet to purchase a new vehicle for our anti-poaching team but are well on our way.

During September GlobalGiving is offering two bonus days, which would give us just the boost we need to get us over the line for our target.

On the 21^st September, there is a Time Release Bonus Day- there is $60 000 available in matching funds, equally divided into 2 pots which will be available in 2 time slots. The first pot becomes available at 6am EDT and the second at 12pm EDT. Your donations will be matched by 30% until funds run out.
During the week of 21-27 September, there is another really exciting opportunity for any new recurring donations. If you opt-in to give us a monthly contribution during that week, your first donation will be matched by 100%!

In preparation for these bonus days, we will be gearing up for our next challenging fundraising event. As you are well aware the need to improve our anti-poaching efforts is extremely necessary, especially after the loss of yet another female with a young calf earlier this year on our reserve.

GVI staff in conjunction with the reserves anti-poaching team regularly conducts anti-poaching patrols as part of our commitment to our vulnerable rhinos. Although the threat of poachers is constant, during full moon our anxieties are heightened as the light the moon provides at this time acts as a natural torch.

In an effort to increase our presence on the reserve during this daunting time, our next fundraising event has been set. On the 16^th of September, when the next full moon falls, GVI will conduct an anti-poaching patrol for a continuous 24-hour period. It will require an enormous effort from staff and volunteers alike to motivate each other to push through those long hours, but with your help as well we can do it!

If you would like to make a contribution towards our efforts please keep the bonus days in mind, as your help on those days is even more valuable. A big thanks in advance from the staff, volunteers and of course the rhinos as well!

With Gratitude,

GVI South Africa

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Jun 13, 2016
Why do we need a new vehicle for our anti-poaching team?

By Richard | GVI Limpopo, Base Manager

Dear Supporters,

If you recall, last month we hosted a Week of Challenges, raising money for our anti-poaching team. We are happy to tell you that we are making great progress towards our goal to buy a new vehicle for our anti-poaching team.

Today I would like to give you a little bit more information about why the need for their vehicle is so critical.

South Africa is home to 90% of the world's rhino population. Since 2007, 5,061 rhinos have been killed in South Africa, nearly 25% of the total population. Our anti-poaching team plays a crucial role to our rhino conservation effort at Karongwe. They work 24 hours, 7 days each week to keep our rhinos safe from the increasing threat of malicious poaching.

Their efforts have extended as far as to humanely remove our rhinos' horns, averting the draw of poachers, and leaving our animals with their lives. Unfortunately, driven by their greed, poachers will still invade our reserve to steal the humble stub of horn our rhinos have left, murdering the animals in the process for their own convenience. To keep poachers at bay, the anti-poaching team patrols our reserve's fence-line day and night, with only ATV's to cover our 8,000 hector grounds. With a vehicle, they would be able to much more efficiently patrol our grounds, better protecting our precious rhinos from a gruesome fate.

We need your help!

You can help this BONUS DAY!

This month, we are very fortunate for the opportunity to increase the amount of funds raised for this cause, and we hope that you will take advantage of this incredible opportunity!

GlobalGiving is willing to match any donations that you make on the 15 June by 50%. The bonus day starts at 9am EDT (New York), 2pm BST (London) and 3pm CAT (here in Limpopo). Any amount that you are able to give will be matched by 50% and will greatly contribute to this worthy cause, fighting the ongoing battle against rhino poaching.

We've created a video to raise further awareness about our cause. You can view it and share it by following this link. *Warning, video contains footage of that may affect sensitive viewers.

Thank you!

With Gratitude,

GVI Limpopo

Links:

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