A big relief that the Rhino Revolution team successfully managed to locate the black rhino bull, cow and calf and safely dehorn them – they took some finding in the thick bush.
Now we can hopefully all sleep a little easier, knowing all the wild black rhino in our Black Rhino Breeding Programme are dehorned.
As always this was a huge team effort. A very big thank you to our sponsors, Wild Response, Kevin Pip and Cassy Zona , vet Peter Stewart Rogers and Provet Animal Hospital, and pilots Gerry McDonald and Bruce McDonald
Meet Vulcan - our new anti-poaching dog!
May we introduce you? Vulcan has joined our security team.
RR-UK donors have funded the purchase, training and costs for a new dog to add extra protection to our reserve and rehab. This wonderful young Dutch Shepherd was selected by Kilo9 and will be worked with by both Protrack and our own staff – this breed is proving to be very successful as anti-poaching dogs.
As well as patrolling the reserve’s perimeter fences, Vulcan is currently undergoing specialist training in bite, bark and tracking commends to help keep our rhino safe.
A very big thank you to Rhino Revolution UK for sponsoring Vulcan’s costs.
He will also be the new mascot for www.thecrash.co.uk our kids portal, where you can follow his progress.
Our Mounted Patrols are expanding!
As a result of their unique success, our mounted horse patrols are expanding!
Two of our ex-racehorses are moving to Thornybush Nature Reserve to join the security forces there to help deter poaching. Thornybush is part of the Greater Kruger APNR, and so they will be providing protection for all the wildlife on the property.
One of the best parts of conservation work is connecting good with good and coming up with "even gooder" as a result!
With the expansion of our mounted anti-poaching patrols, Rhino Revolution guard Tokelo has also moved to Thornybush Nature Reserve to make sure the horses are settling in.
Thornybush Nature Reserve field rangers and K9 handlers Luigi Gino Cinquina and Mc Burger have already connected with the two horses, Beat Patrol and Eternal Words (Cami).
Meanwhile the daily horse patrols continue on the Rhino Revolution reserve.
Girl Power!
Rhino Revolution’s very own Karabo Karabinah Chiloane , who heads up our Educational Outreach Programme, has passed her PDP driving licence, which means she’s now qualified to drive the #dnata Jungle Bus!
Karabo is leading the daytrips to Kruger for Eco Children and GreenKidz Programme and heads our Community Engagement Projects along with our EMs.
Pangolin seized!
Pangolin seized!
Rhino Revolution's SA Veterinary Nurse Jacky Spiby is assisting Provet Animal Hospital with yet another pangolin confiscated from the trade. This young male was seized from poachers locally in collaboration with African Pangolin Working Group and K9 Conservation.
Here's hoping he makes a full recovery and thank you to everybody involved in his rescue.
Orphaned Masingita, pregnant with her first calf!
The BEST news ever – we are to become grandparents!!!
Masingitta, one of the Lucky Five re-wilded orphans is PREGNANT!
A pregnancy test was taken when she was recently dehorned – and she is also looking quite wide!
She was seen mating with the dominant adult bull rhino a few months ago.
We are so proud and thrilled and excited. The re-wilding process is complete – an orphaned rhino calf is back in the wild, and having mated with a wild white rhino, will produce the next generation of wild rhino. This helps ensure valuable genetic variety – and every rhino counts.
As white rhinos have a gestation period of 16 months, it may be some time before the pitter patter of tiny feet – we will keep you posted.
A HUGE thank you to everyone who has raised funds to support The Lucky Five from their arrival in 2015/2016 as traumatised orphans, to helping keep them safe back in the wild today.
What a journey – and what a conservation success story.
The Lucky 5 safely dehorned!
The Lucky Five have all been safely dehorned and we are so relieved!
With a recent upsurge in poaching in the area, it was crucial that the re-wilded orphans were once again dehorned. After nearly two years regrowth, it was approaching time to dehorn them again. The date however was urgently brought forwards, due to security concerns. Although dehorning is not a long-term solution it is currently proving to be the most effective deterrent against poaching.
After all the recent rain the bush is very thick indeed and the rhino took some finding.
A big thank you to the flying & spotting skills of the fixed wing plane and chopper pilots (Bruce and Gerry Mcdonald) and thank you as always to Provet Animal Hospital and Peter Stewart Rogers
And of course a rhino-sized thank you to the sponsors and supporters who rallied at very short notice to raise the funds to dehorn the Lucky Five and the other rhino on the reserve - Rhino Revolution UK who once again came to our rescue, Council of Contributors, Wild Response, Panthera Photo Safaris, Painteddog.tv and Casey Cole McKee.
Keeping the chubby unicorns protected is an expensive business – we are truly grateful for everyone’s support.
'The Crash!' Webpage goes LIVE!
Rhino Revolution UK has developed a new online portal for children interested in saving the rhinos!
If you have children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old, who are interested in rhinos and endangered species conservation, get them signed up to The Crash. It's free , and they get a welcome pack of goodies to share with their friends to help raise awareness of Rhino to a wider audience.
Visit www.thecrash.co.uk
