Over the last five years, the exponential increase in illegal rhino\u00a0poaching in Africa and particularly\u00a0Southern Africa has reignited the discussion over how best to protect these\u00a0peaceful beasts.\u00a0With current debates carrying focused on legalising the trade, the one off\u00a0selling of stock piles and even\u00a0farming rhino like cattle to periodically harvest horns from the living\u00a0animals, it can sometimes feel like\u00a0the bloody battle being fought in Africa\u2019s parks and reserves is being\u00a0swept under the carpet by obtuse\u00a0bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, it seems that our efforts to guard and protect our free\u00a0roaming rhino are falling short of\u00a0what is needed. Borders are coming under attack and allegations of\u00a0corruption from within are rife.\u00a0Africa\u2019s park rangers are facing injury or worse when they run into members\u00a0of, what seems to be\u00a0increasingly sophisticated poaching syndicates and often risk prosecution\u00a0for their way of dealing with\u00a0these trespassing thieves. These dedicated teams and individuals risk their\u00a0own safety on the ground by\u00a0patrolling and monitoring and they need all the assistance we can muster.<\/p>\n
There is hope though! Currently there are a few new & innovative ideas\u00a0being tested to help stamp out\u00a0the threat of poaching.<\/p>\n
De-horning<\/strong> Poison & Dye<\/strong><\/p>\n This may seem like an extreme measure but this initiative, started by a\u00a0private South African rhino\u00a0custodian, is looking very promising. The 40min procedure is done under\u00a0anaesthetic and only needs to\u00a0be done every 3 to 4 years as opposed to almost yearly for de-horning. The\u00a0poison is toxic (but not\u00a0fatal) to people but is completely safe for the rhino and even for the\u00a0ox-peckers that help keep them\u00a0tick free. The dye is visible under an x-ray scanner even when the horn has\u00a0been ground down to a\u00a0powder making it basically impossible to transport through airport\u00a0security. The success of this initiative\u00a0can be largely attributed to the fact that the information about the\u00a0poisoned horns and dye is spread\u00a0through the surrounding community via flyers, posters around the entire\u00a0perimeter, and at town hall\u00a0talks. Once the poachers know the horns are worthless, there is no reason\u00a0for them to risk capture and\u00a0prosecution. More than 100 rhino have been treated, and there have been\u00a0ZERO reported losses.<\/p>\n Unmanned surveillance drones<\/strong> It will probably get a little darker before it gets light, but we need to\u00a0take action now. We need to ensure\u00a0that this issue keeps being discussed and keeps gaining momentum so that it\u00a0garners the attention of\u00a0law-makers and misinformed consumers. \u00a0We can all play a part by\u00a0researching, donating and sharing.\u00a0Social media and the constant connection we have to each other gives us,\u00a0you & me, the chance to make\u00a0our voices heard. Take it, make a difference and help to save the rhinos!<\/p>\n Written by: Sophia Vos, Acacia Senior Reservations Consultant<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Over the last five years, the exponential increase in illegal rhino\u00a0poaching in Africa and particularly\u00a0Southern Africa has reignited the discussion over how best to protect these\u00a0peaceful beasts.\u00a0With current debates carrying…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,30,11,15,16,32,33,18,20,26],"tags":[50,64,75,124,249,259,275,305,319,329,342,356,421],"class_list":["post-2330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-about-acacia-africa","category-acacia","category-botswana","category-kenya","category-mozambique","category-namibia","category-overland","category-small-group-safari","category-south-africa","category-tanzania","category-zambia","tag-africa","tag-anti-poaching","tag-big-five","tag-conservation","tag-local-responsible-travel","tag-masai-mara","tag-namibia","tag-photography","tag-responsible-tourism","tag-safari","tag-serengeti","tag-south-africa","tag-wildlife"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nDe-horning has been used by some parks all over Africa for a few years now\u00a0with varying success.\u00a0Some parks have reported no reduction in poaching, finding de-horned\u00a0rhino’s being poached at the\u00a0same rate as their horned counter parts. This may be a revenge tactic or it\u00a0may simply be that these\u00a0animals are shot before the killer has a clear shot or view of the animal.\u00a0Concerns have also been raised\u00a0about the change in behaviour shown by wild, de-horned animals. Their horns\u00a0are vital for digging for\u00a0roots, attracting a mate or fighting for territory and self-protection.<\/p>\n
\nCutting edge technology may become the unlikely hero of the East African\u00a0rhino (& elephant!).\u00a0In 2012, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy raised $35,000 through crowd-funding to\u00a0purchase an unmanned\u00a0aerial drone to assist their 190 or so rangers with surveillance & wildlife\u00a0monitoring. While programs are\u00a0already active in conservancies around the world, this is a first for East\u00a0Africa. With a live feed from each\u00a0of its four or five 90min flights a day, rangers & park officials are able\u00a0to reach vulnerable and hard to\u00a0get to areas. There are now plans to chip rhinos and other endangered\u00a0animals with unique radio\u00a0frequency so the drones will be able to recognise and locate these\u00a0magnificent mammals, making\u00a0studying their natural behaviour & keeping them safe a much easier task.<\/p>\n