Project Report
| Jan 11, 2023
Rhino Task Team
By Amy Clark | Campaign Manager
![]()
This campaign was to help raise funds for the ProTrack Rhino Task Team, who assist smaller "farms" on the boarders of the Kruger National Park that are home to rhinos, protect their rhino as well as help them with smaller security problems. Saying NO to any sort of crime, no matter how big or small.
It costs approximately $2000 a month to run just one two man team and sadly due to limited funding the team is not currently able to operate, so the project has been temporarily closed until more funding for operational costs can be secured.
Due to this we are closing this camapign, until such time as the team is able to get back in to the field.
We would like to thank you for your support and donations over the past 8 months, you have helped the team keep their boots on the ground during this time. Giving them the opportunity to provide valuable assistance to Rhino owners and advise that will help them to protect these animals during this time.
Links:
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
Jan 6, 2023
No matter how big or small...
By Amy Aucamp-Clark | Campaign Manager
![Keeping the reserves clean]()
Keeping the reserves clean
The Rhino Task Teams main goal is to assist smaller "farms" that have Rhino. To protect their animals but also to assist with smaller problems. Saying “no” to any sort of crime – no matter how big or small.
Something as small as picking up trash can save a little critter's life...
Animals can starve when they ingest too much plastic that they can't digest. When animals ingest plastic waste, it can block their digestive tracts. As a result, they starve. Toxic chemicals in plastic can harm animals' health.
The Team have also made an arrest since our last report. A man caught with Kudu meat tried to go through a reserve gate while the Team was doing a stop and search. We can't give any more detail as it is still an on going investigation but this just shows why it is so important to have the team out and about in the area.
• Unlike hunting, poaching is the illegal killing of wildlife.
• One of the most common drivers of poaching is the desire for rare animal products such as ivory and furs.
• Poaching does not necessarily involve the killing of threatened or endangered animals. Any animal can be poached if it is killed unlawfully
People who poach do so for a variety of reasons, including for food, pleasure, and trophies. In our area, it is most likely because of poverty. One of the misconceptions about poaching is that it must involve endangered animals. This is not the case.
Even the poaching of fruit-eating animals can have an affect on the eco-system, for example,
reduction in fruit-eating mammals may affect seed dispersal, altering the fauna of an ecosystem.
All animal life is equally important!
![Stop and Search]()
Stop and Search
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
Sep 8, 2022
How the Rhino Task Team Began
By Amy Aucamp-Clark | Campaign Manager
![Tracks]()
Tracks
What's Different about the Rhino Task Team compared to other Rhino Charities and organisations?
The Rhino Task Team are the only unit that are fully operational for all reserves in our area and have great support and trust from our local SAPS (South African Police Service) and the community. the teams Anti Poachers are fully trained, fully armed and run 24hours a day. They are the only NPO that have a fantastic Intel and investigation team as well as great connections in the anti poaching industry including SANPARKS. Our team have Protrack Anti-Poaching unit as a big brother, Protrack have 25 years of anti-poaching experience and are the largest and first ever private anti-poaching unit in South Africa. The knowledge and expertise they have given to us and are still giving to us every day is invaluable.
Every day, the Rhino Task Team mission out into the bush fully equipped and fully armed to prevent our rhinos from dying. Going into the bush day or night is not a safe job, they are risking their lives walking the same paths as dangerous game such as lion and elephants, not to mention armed poachers. Our team do many things for the rhino owners in our area such as foot patrols, vehicle patrols, presence patrols, road blocks and observation posts. Presence patrols are very important for anti-poaching, it shows the poacher we are guarding the reserve and they have a much higher chance of getting caught. As the cost of living goes up due to the current economy, so does the pressure on our wildlife. The Rhino Task Team have seen a marked increase in the number of bush meat cases as families are forced to turn to poaching for an alternative source of food or income, not to mention the presure that is increasing on our endagered species as the illegal wildlife and illegal exotic pet trade increases.
![Snares]()
Snares
![Training]()
Training
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
