Action for the Wild donations put to good use in South Africa

On the 30th of August, Colchester Zoo’s Director of Conservation visited Section Ranger Dirk Swart at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Dirk is responsible for the Manzibomvu section of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Action for the Wild has strong links with Hluhluwe and iMfolozi, which we have supported since 2005/6 with the European Zoos and Aquaria, Save the Rhinos Campaign. Since this time, we have donated over £50,000 to support rhino conservation. Our funds have been used to purchase for both reserves; solar panels, deep cycle batteries, camping equipment, rifle safes, Landcruiser tyres, air compressors, and equipment to maintain the fencing around the reserve, along with much much more. Our funds have also helped with the running of a Bantam light aircraft used to patrol the reserves. Dirk spent the day with Rebecca and showed her all around the Hluhluwe reserve; looking at the solar panels of the field ranger outposts and the air compression and workshop equipment vital to preventing the poaching of rhinos. So far this year over 380 rhinos have been poached, and in the KwaZulu-Natal province where Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is based, 46 rhinos have currently been shot. Anti-poaching is absolutely vital to preventing further decline in rhinos and it was wonderful to see where Action for the Wild’s funds are going and to see the purchased items put to such good use.

2011 saw the largest number of rhinos killed in South Africa, and with the current figures for this year, last years number will soon be overtaken. It is estimated with the current poaching rate; around 515 rhinos will be killed in South Africa during 2012. Poaching gangs threaten the very fabric of rhino conservation in Africa. Not only do the poachers slaughter rhinos, but they also regularly fire on the people who try to protect them. Factors which have contributed to the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa in recent years, include the poor compliance over stockpile management, loopholes in sport hunting policy and increased demand for rhino horn in Vietnam.

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