Black rhino and calf

Our majestic black and white rhino

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As South Africans we’re proud of our natural heritage, where our black and white rhinos hold pride of place in our nation’s Big 5. Sadly, poaching gangs are becoming more sophisticated and anti-poaching efforts need to evolve to prevent pilfering. That is why our MyPlanet Rhino Fund was set up, to ensure these endangered giants get an army of supporters to help protect them.

TOP MYPLANET RHINO FUND INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS*:

Here are some great examples of the incredible anti-poaching efforts happening on the ground. And that’s thanks to supporters like you — keep swiping your card to help raise funds that protect this vulnerable species. Please note that we don’t communicate locations for security reasons.

1. Security upgrades to protect orphaned calves
When poachers kill their mothers, rhino calves are left vulnerable and need to be rescued from the field to survive. At secure bomas they undergo treatment and rehabilitation until they are ready to re-enter a reserve on their own. Keeping them protected means ensuring high-tech security and monitoring of their safety areas.

2. Eyes everywhere to monitor access
Some game parks and conservancies have public roads running through them. With the help of new CCTV and LPR cameras, conservation staff can now keep an eye on all access points and take proactive measures.

3. Undercover monitoring
A new state-of-the-art portable radar and trailer is keeping a watchful eye over hotspots across the country. Working closely with Stop Rhino Poaching we are able to provide even greater cover.

group of black rhinos, rhino calf

4. K9 sniffer reaction units

To boost numbers of trained dogs to track poachers, tracking dogs are being trained for a new K9 unit in a security cluster. In-depth training of handlers will commence as soon as lockdown regulations allow. This is part of enabling additional capability in the security clusters.

5. Specialist vet equipment
Ruthless poachers often leave rhinos maimed and in extreme pain in the veld. Time as in any emergency is vital, to help ensure poached rhino’s survival, vets have been given specialist protective gear and mobile x-ray equipment to assess injuries and give rhinos a fighting chance of survival.

6. Dehorning
Protecting rhino lives often means removing their horns. But it’s an expensive job that requires a helicopter, vet and game capture team. With MyPlanet Rhino Fund’s help, 69 rhinos were dehorned and will now be able to live in peace and help grow new populations.

7. Supporting Mounted Reaction units
Mounted units can patrol greater distances and cover more areas. Providing these teams with much needed equipment and winter gear will go a long way to protect the Rhino’s in their care. As they work tirelessly, your help has made a huge difference to them and the rhino in their care.

As South Africans it is critical to stay safe and cared fore during the Covid-19 pandemic, the anti-poaching teams in the field that your support of the MyPlanet Rhino Fund has enabled, could not have achieved as much without your continued support.

Please invite fellow Rhino guardians to support the MyPlanet Rhino Fund by sharing this link. Get your Free MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card today or link your Woolworths card.Make Every Swipe Count!

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