Join Wildlife ACTive, Prevent Animal Poaching

Someone recently asked me why the Rhino deserves so much attention — why dedicate so many resources to a single species? My response was that we should be protecting all species. Everything from the Lion to the Termite...

An ecosystem is a complex system that consists of all the living organisms in a particular area, as well as the environment with which the organisms interact. The living organisms and non-living components of the ecosystem interact in such a way as to maintain balance.

There are many different species of plants and animals that make up the biotic component of the savanna grassland. Animals depend on each other to keep the savanna grassland ecosystem in equilibrium. All ecosystems exist on a foundation of microorganisms and other small creatures, like bacteria and plankton. Alterations in the food chain at the bottom level can offset the entire system.  As the dominant predator in its ecosystem, the lion exerts considerable top-down influence in keeping the ecosystem in balance. Lions are carnivores and have no natural predators besides man, which makes them apex predators or keystone species. Removing apex predators can be just as detrimental for an ecosystem than removing a lower level species from the bottom of the food chain. Lion will often focus their hunts on the weakest members of the herd when they fall behind. In this way the sick are removed and the gene pool is kept clean, and thus they keep herd populations strong and healthy. Without the threat of apex predators like lions, smaller carnivores tend to multiply and offset the balance. Antelope and zebra are grazers, and without lions, or other large predators, to keep numbers in check overgrazing may occur. Without vegetation to keep the soil in place, the once lush plains could become desert. 

Elephants also play an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which they live.  By pulling down trees and opening up thick bush they form open spaces for travel and the extra sunlight allows grass to grow. In turn White rhino and buffalo maintain these diverse grasslands on which countless other species depend.  Although termites are only a fraction of the size of some of these other animals, collectively their colonies play a vital role in nutrient cycling and maintaining soil health. Many species, from bats to elephants, assist with seed dispersal within a system. Pollinators, such as bees, maintain gene flow and dispersal throughout widespread ecosystems ensuring plant diversity. By deciding to protect the rhino, by extension we’re choosing to protect their habitat and the species that live alongside them. This supports healthy ecosystems.

Ecologically, all species play a pivotal role in keeping our wild ecosystems in equilibrium and monitoring them assists us in protecting them, better understanding them as a species and the processes that shape the natural world we live in.

 
Thank you for helping us to do so! We are so grateful for your support! 

Best wishes, 

Pippa

Dear Friends,

As we reach the midpoint of the year, we want to take a moment to pause, reflect, and share with you — our incredible global support network — what you’ve helped to make possible, whether financially or emotionally.  

Earlier this month, our team came together for an important event in our calendar: our annual mid-year Staff Workshop. For a few intense, inspiring days, staff from across our projects gathered in the bush to connect in person, share knowledge, and renew our collective strength.

These workshops are so much more than meetings. They are our opportunity to meet new team members face-to-face — often for the first time — and to reconnect with colleagues we haven’t seen in months. Each project presents its highlights and challenges, opening the door for honest discussions, peer learning, and a renewed sense of purpose.

From back to back meetings (07h00 - 19h00), telemetry challenges and emergency response training to camera trap workshops and fireside team-building, every session plays a part in strengthening our work on the ground. These moments — surrounded by the sounds of the bush and the laughter of our team — are powerful reminders of why we do what we do. One of my highlights was the Telelmetry Challenge. The team who was watching would go and hide a collar, and when I say hide I mean bury under a layer of ground: it makes it increasingly difficult to find and poachers are known to do this, so a good exercise to hone these skills. The first team to locate the collar wins. 

The first three teams were Manyoni, iMfolozi and Hluhluwe and it was fantastic to watch! Three very skilled teams going up against each other doing their thing in silence, moving quietly through the trees and bush. They all arrived at the right spot at roughly the same time much to the shrieks and cheering from the rest of us. Then followed the Rhino Monitors and more senior staff, and they were eventually even joined by our finance ladies, much to everyone's delight. Chris gave us lessons in walking in on foot and highlighted some triangulation tricks that he used to use successfully. It was a fantastic exercise. 

So most importantly, these gatherings are essential for the transfer of institutional knowledge and staff wellness. We are constantly learning — young from old, and old from young — and that shared learning is what empowers us to monitor, protect, and save the wild spaces and wildlife we all love.

Your support allows us to come together, to grow stronger as a team, and to continue our work where it matters most: on the frontlines of conservation.

From all of us here, thank you for being part of our global family. We’re so grateful to walk this path with you.