Impact Report 2017–18 in This Era When the Fight Against Rhino Poaching Is Becoming More Modernised, We Tend to Neglect the Importance of the Human Element
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Save the Rhino International Impact Report 2017–18 In this era when the fight against rhino poaching is becoming more modernised, we tend to neglect the importance of the human element. There is a critical need to look after our most important assets: our staff. All the technology in the world means nothing without the correct application of the boots on the ground, and that’s where the support of Save the Rhino and its donors has been so helpful. Eduard Goosen, Conservation Manager, uMkhuze Game Reserve, South Africa 2 OUR VISION A message from our CEO All five rhino species Save the Rhino started with adventure: motor-biking from thriving in the wild Nairobi to London for a ‘rhino scramble’ and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro to raise vital funds for OUR MISSION conservation programmes that were just beginning Collaborating with partners to to come out of an intense two decades of poaching. Since Save the Rhino was registered as a charity in support endangered rhinos in 1994, we have continued the adventure theme with Africa and Asia supporters taking on challenges of all shapes and sizes. All for one reason: to help rhinos. I’m proud to say that during the past year we have been able to give out our biggest sum of grants to date, totalling more than £2,000,000 OUR STRATEGIES and supporting 27 programmes across Africa and Asia. These funds have been used – among other things – to purchase boots, binoculars Saving rhinos and beds for rangers, as well as essential anti-poaching and 1 monitoring equipment so that wherever a rhino is, it can be protected. 2 Sharing information We’ve also been strengthening our work across all five strategies, approaching all projects with these in mind to ensure that donors’ Involving communities funds are being spent effectively. It is thanks to all of our donors, 3 supporters and partners that we can save the rhino, from protecting Reducing illegal horn trade populations, sharing expertise between programmes, engaging 4 local communities and tackling the demand for illegal horn. Poaching statistics are declining, slightly, but all five species remain vulnerable, 5 Engaging support and and we need to build on all the successes we’ve been able to achieve. Inspiring action The year ahead of us will not be simple. There will be hurdles to overcome and, as always, lots to accomplish. But for now, I am glad to be reflecting on all of the adventures that 2017-18 brought for Save the Rhino. Thank you, as ever, for your support. Cathy Dean CEO 3 CONTENTS A message from our CEO 3 Our achievements 6 State of the rhino (Africa and Asia) 8 Where we work 10 Saving rhinos Case study: Lowveld Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe 12 Case study: Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, Indonesia 14 Sharing information Case study: Canine workshop, South Africa 16 Case study: Association of Private Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya 18 Involving communities Case study: Save the Rhino Trust, Namibia 20 Case study: Lolesha Luangwa, Zambia 22 Reducing illegal horn trade Case study: IWT Oxford Martin Conference 24 Case study: Education for Nature-Vietnam 26 Engaging support and inspiring action Case study: John Hume's rhino horn auction, South Africa 28 Case study: Community fundraising and support 30 Fundraiser spotlight 32 Improving efficiency 33 Fundraising and financials 34 Looking ahead 38 Rhino HQ 40 Thank you 41 4 RHINO MILESTONES The previous rhino poaching epidemic begins 1970 Dave Stirling and Johnny Roberts complete a ‘rhino 1990 scramble’ across Africa First London Marathon team, including runners in rhino costume, and rave 1992 fundraising nights begin Save the Rhino International registers as a charity, with Dave 1994 and Johnny as joint Directors Black rhino numbers sink to an all-time low of 2,410 1995 Cathy Dean appointed as 2001 Save the Rhino’s CEO European zoos and Save the Rhino mount the ‘Save the Rhinos’ campaign, raising €660,000 2005 The current rhino poaching crisis begins, initially in Zimbabwe, then spreading into South Africa, Cathy becomes a member of 2008 Kenya and Namibia the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group Save the Rhino’s first grant 2012 towards reducing the demand for illegal rhino horn in Viet Nam 1,346 rhinos poached throughout Africa, the highest number in 2015 two decades Save the Rhino supports 25 field programmes / 2016 projects in 12 countries More than £2,000,000 awarded in grants to help 2018 rhinos thrive in Africa and Asia 5 6 OUR ACHIEVEMENTS n n £2,017,813 awarded More than 750 black in grants to rhinos now living in Kenya n help rhinos thrive Public Service n Lowest number Announcements on 62 of African rhinos Vietnamese TV channels n poached since 2013 55 London n 13,842 students reached Marathon runners n through outreach 300 community projects in Zimbabwe surveys analysed in n 8% annual population Namibia to understand growth for North attitudes towards rhinos n Luangwa National Park’s Six poaching attempts rhinos and no rhinos foiled in Namibia’s poached in 2017-18 Kunene region thanks to n 30 zoo conservation community support n partners raising Tracking wildlife more than £97,000 trade enforcement n 29 exceptional with partners in volunteers helped us demand countries n throughout the year Collaborating with n Sumatran Rhino partners to reduce Sanctuary expanded to demand for rhino horn in bring in new rhinos China and Viet Nam n n 38 rhino monitors trained £261,938 raised n 40 people gathered from by our amazing 12 African countries to community fundraisers n talk dog squads and Numerous business wildlife protection partners doing their bit n 65 blogs published, for rhino conservation reaching our raising £91,941 supporters in the UK to share key rhino news 7 STATE OF THE RHINO This year brought with it some good news: rhino poaching in Africa decreased – slightly – for another year. However, more than 1,000 rhinos were killed for their horn and the past 12 months have brought with them some devastating situations. Thankfully for now, the global rhino population is still increasing or holding steady, but only just. It is the dedicated work of rangers and conservation managers across Africa and Asia that we have to thank for this. They continue to do the best they can to keep rhino populations alive, saving these iconic animals for years to come. Cathy Dean | CEO Africa The current crisis took off – in terms of the impact of cases on On the plus side, poaching decreased in Kenya and South Africa national rhino populations – in Zimbabwe in 2008. Before this, in 2017. However, a total of 36 losses were seen in Zimbabwe, in the early 2000s, poaching numbers across Africa had been as compared to 30 in 2016. In Tanzania, while 2016 saw zero at record lows. poaching, two rhinos were killed in 2017. Reports of incidents in Botswana in the first eight months of 2018 suggest that this Once the ‘soft targets’ in Zimbabwe were exhausted, poaching could be the next target for the gangs. We know the figures won’t gangs turned their attention to neighbouring countries. South disappear overnight, and unfortunately the syndicates’ methods Africa, which is home to around 80% of Africa’s rhinos, was hit and networks also continually evolve. The fall in overall poaching hard, with huge increases from 2009 to 2014. Today, South Africa numbers is a positive step, but we have a long way to go before is still the country experiencing the highest number of rhino rhinos are safe and thriving. poaching incidents – 1,028 in 2017. Most of these incidents are taking place in Kruger National Park, but increasingly poachers are moving into other major parks and reserves, such as Hluhluwe- iMfolozi Park in the KwaZulu-Natal region. White rhino NT Black rhino CR Ceratotherium simum Diceros bicornis In-situ population* 19,682-21,077 In-situ population* 5,042 — 5,455 Rhinos and the IUCN RED LIST CLASSIFICATION: IUCN RED LIST CLASSIFICATION Near Threatened Is close to qualifying Critically Endangered Considered to be IUCN Red List for or is likely to qualify for a threatened facing an extremely high risk of extinction category in the near future in the wild 8 IMAGES – LEFT TO RIGHT: WHITE RHINOS ARE THE RHINO SPECIES WITH HIGHEST POACHING NUMBERS, MAGDALENA BARAN; IN ASIA, GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINOS ARE TARGETED, STEVE AND ANN TOON. Asia In Asia, the three species of rhino all exist in much smaller For Greater one-horned rhinos, the story is a little different. numbers than in Africa. Poaching continues to be a threat, There have been several dozen poaching incidents during the but populations are also heavily affected by habitat losses. last decade and poachers in Assam are becoming increasingly As far as we understand, no poaching incidents of Javan or sophisticated. Given the relative proximity of these areas to Sumatran rhinos have taken place in recent years, but, with fewer key rhino-horn markets (China and Viet Nam), community than 100 of each species, they are at a tipping point. The crucial engagement is a critical path to success for the Greater one- objectives for these two species are to improve breeding success, horned rhino. Communication between anti-poaching teams and to prevent habitat loss, to consolidate Sumatran stragglers and to local villages is also vital to track down poachers and convict establish a second population of Javan rhinos. those found guilty. Without successfully prosecuting perpetrators, the incentive to poach will remain high. Sources * Data compiled by International Union for 2-3 years in time for the Convention on ** International Rhino Foundation Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species International Trade of Endangered Species In-situ population: in countries where rhinos Survival Commission’s (SSC) African Rhino of Fauna and Flora’s (CITES) Conference naturally occur, i.e.