ISSUE No. #02 THE QUARTERLY DIGEST APRIL 2021

RISE FOR WILDLIFE! THE WORTH OF AN ELEPHANT? SEEING ELEPHANTS FROM SPACE! VETERAN NEWS Rise with us Putting a price on nature Using satellites to survey 2021 State Veteran benefits Operation Rhino Rise is a comprehensive The idea of being able to put a price on Researchers at the University of Oxford Everyone knows about the federal effort to increase the population of Black nature is dividing opinion, but the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit have benefits available to veterans, but did you and White Rhino to a realistic and sustain- financial value of ‘ecosystem services’ found a new and improved technique for know many states also offer their own able number. is increasingly guiding policy. surveying elephants instead of human-led veteran benefits? aerial counts; Satellite imagery. RISE FOR WILDLIFE!

PHOTO: KEITH MARKILIE

Operation Rhino Rise is a comprehensive effort to extensively increase the population of Black and White Rhino, and other endangered wildlife to a realistic and sustainable number capable of continuous growth for generations to come.

Since 2014, VETPAW has led the effort in protecting Africa’s endangered wildlife and precious ecosystems. We have only been so successful due to various missions, campaigns, and partnerships. Which has only been made possible with the help of gracious donors supporting our cause internationally. Throughout many successful wildlife endeavors, we are competent to refocus efforts towards conservation, preservation, and the repopulation of Rhinos, Elephants, Cheetahs, Lions, and Pangolin.

Operation Rhino Rise is essential in continuing our mission of conservation and protection.

Operation Rhino Rise expands on the effort of endangered wildlife repopulation. Currently, we have relocated 18 Black Rhinos to protected territory with the help of local government and private landowners. A focal point for this operation is to introduce an additional 82 Rhinos to protected territories by 2022. This introduction can only be made possible through relocation and natural breeding efforts.

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OPERATION RHINO RISE KRUGER RHINO POPULATIONS PLUMMET

by Team Africa Geographic

PHOTO: CHRISTER GUNDERSEN

January 27, 2021

After years of silence from Kruger National Park concerning their rhino populations, South Africa’s Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs has released data showing population numbers have plummeted to an estimated 3,529 white and 268 black rhinos.

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KRUGER RHINO POPULATIONS PLUMMET HOW MUCH IS AN ELEPHANT WORTH? MEET THE ECOLOGISTS DOING THE SUMS

by Patrick Greenfield

PHOTO: GERAN DE KLERK

The idea of putting a price tag on the natural services the earth provides is a dividing opinion, but the financial value of ecosystem services is an increasingly guiding policy.

In 1996, Prof Shahid Naeem was part of a team of researchers who put a value on our earth. Specifically, they were trying to establish the dollar value of all of the “ecosystem services” our planet provides us with annually.

Around $33tn, they concluded nearly double global GDP at the time, is the value natural ecosystems provide us.

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HOW MUCH IS AN ELEPHANT WORTH? SAVING WILDLIFE WITH ANCIENT HUNTING SKILLS IN SOUTH AFRICA

PHOTO: PIOTR USEWICZ

The Tracker Academy at SA College for Tourism is training young people in the ancient skill of tracking. With this knowledge, they help preserve wildlife and can find jobs in national parks instead of becoming poachers.

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SAVING WILDLIFE WITH ANCIENT HUNTING SKILLS SPOTTING ELEPHANTS FROM SPACE

From The University of Oxford

Using the highest resolution satellite imagery currently available - Worldview 3 - from Maxar Technologies and deep learning, (TensorFlow API, Google Brain) researchers at the University of Oxford Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Machine Learning Research Group have found a new and improved technique for surveying elephants instead of human-led aerial counts.

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SPOTTING ELEPHANTS FROM SPACE TEAM LEADERS UPDATE

To our donors

2020, what a year. Not exactly what we were expecting here on the ground, yet luckily, we had the remarkable fortune of having a rock-solid team dedicated to our conservation mission here in South Africa.

It has been a year and a half since we participated in the relocation of 20 black rhinos to the reserve, and I am proud to report that they are thriving! Initially, our team was using radio frequency telemetry to triangulate and map individual animals to establish home ranges of the rhino. As well as monitor their health and condition as they adapted to their new home. However, as batteries in the tracking collars have died, we have adapted our methods of keeping track of and protecting these beautiful animals. Because of your generosity, we have been able to field over 30 wildlife trail cameras throughout the reserve! Which serves a dual purpose of collecting location data on animals, as well as bolstering security efforts by helping us to monitor outside intrusions.

In terms of our community outreach efforts, our partnership with the Yendella community has never been stronger. The extra income generated through our sustainability efforts with the community has relieved significant pressure for them throughout this pandemic. Rodger, the elected spokesman for the Yendella CPA, has asked me to relay his thanks to everybody who has shown support for their community. We are exploring new opportunities for job and skills training within the community and strengthening the foundation of our friendship with these incredible people.

With travel restrictions easing and vaccination rates for COVID-19 increasing, we are eager to restart our volunteer experience. Final preparations for the home are underway and, we are all looking forward to sharing an opportunity of a lifetime for our supporters to experience conservation alongside our veterans. Your continued support is essential to our success and continued operations, and on behalf of our whole team, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

We look forward to seeing you out here soon!

Sincerely, Justin Wyszkowski, Team leader

TEAM LEADERS UPDATE BLOG BY: AARON MCMAHON

FROM THE VETPAW TEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA COVID-19 is taking a detrimental toll in many facets of the world, and the conservation industry is no exception. With international travel restrictions and tourism halted indefinitely, many non- profits and conservation organizations against poaching are struggling. Many are left wondering how they will bring in the necessary funds to remain effectively operational. COVID-19 is escalating economic hardships on the people who rely on tourism as a means for survival. As you probably know, Vetpaw provides anti-poaching jobs for ex-military members, placing them on reserves in Africa. Our Vetpaw team members on the ground in South Africa have a unique perspective of COVID-19 and its effects on conservation. These are our thoughts on COVID-19, Conservation, and how poacher hunting could increase during the pandemic.

AFRICAN POACHING, CONSERVATION AND TOURISM Many game reserves, conservation farms, anti-poaching units, organizations against poaching, non-profit organizations, and other conservation allies rely on tourism and donations for funding. Some are shutting down completely, while others are hurting to stay in business and selling off their assets. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, wildlife-based tourism in Africa employs 3.6 million people and generates over 29 billion dollars annually. With constraints on tourism and travel, some African countries are experiencing increased poaching activity. Where they are unable to afford essential equipment and anti-poaching units like Vetpaw. But tourism doesn’t just help fund conservation and anti-poaching- it also incentivizes governments to help protect wildlife and habitats that may not receive sufficient aid otherwise.

Travel restrictions and the economic fallout of COVID-19 have caused many reserves to shut down permanently, sell off their assets, and or lay off key personnel. The more training African rangers and field guides have, the more expensive they are to compensate. Due to COVID-19, many wildlife habitats are unable to afford properly trained, honest rangers and staff. Without funding from tourism, many of the wildlife reserves that remain operational are sitting in less than ideal conditions, unable to afford essential, experienced staff and critical supplies.

VETPAW CONTINUES COMBATING AFRICAN POACHING The staff that does remain employed faces an increased chance of exhaustion, complacency, and lowered morale. Against all odds, the Vetpaw team members in Africa have been able to mitigate such effects and manage operations at 100% effectiveness. While most Vetpaw deployments last three months before taking some time off, the on-ground team has been working around the clock for the better part of 2020. For other game reserves and wildlife farms, these conditions have elevated the poaching threat level while reducing the means of protecting African wildlife.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO COMBAT POACHER HUNTING DURING COVID-19? Reducing support for African wildlife conservation at this critical point in history could undo years and years of progress. By donating to Vetpaw, you will help us buy essential equipment for keeping African wildlife safe during the COVID-19 epidemic. Your funding will help us train more local African rangers, educate and empower local communities and employ more skilled workers to defend African wildlife.

If you’d like to help save the rhinos, you can donate here or donate essential items by contacting [email protected]

Interested in anti poaching jobs for ex military? Join our team at vetpaw.org/careers

READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE VETERAN NEWS YOUR 2021 STATE VETERANS BENEFITS

by Jim Absher / Military.com

PHOTO: LUCAS SANKEY

January 20, 2021

Everyone knows about the federal benefits available to veterans, but did you know many states also offer their own veteran benefits? State benefits range from free college and employment resources to free hunting and fishing licenses. Most states also provide tax breaks for their veterans and specialized license plates; some states even provide their veterans with cash bonuses just for serving in the military.

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YOUR 2021 STATE VETERAN BENEFITS MANY VA BENEFITS WILL BE EXPANDING IN 2021 THANKS TO A NEW LAW

by Jim Absher / Military.com

PHOTO: ANDY FELICIOTTI

December 8, 2020

Congress passed legislation making several changes to benefits administered by the Department ofV eterans Affairs and sent it to then-President Donald Trump’s desk to get signed into law. The legislation, known as the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvements Act of 2020 makes several changes to existing benefit programs.

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VA BENEFITS EXPANDING IN 2021