By Eleanor E | Individual Giving Executive
DSWF project partners in Northern India have been working hard through winter and spring, nurturing biodiversity through researching, educating, and advocating for the conservation of the greater one horned rhino. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and forest officials, nine attempted rhino poaching incidents were successfully thwarted in the past year through proactive surveillance and timely interventions. However, unfortunately, at the start of 2024 the state of Assam has lost two greater one horned rhinos due to poaching, both in Kaziranga National Park. The culprits were swiftly arrested with one of the horns recovered within 72 hours of the arrest.
On January 3, a new documentary aired on Sky, named ‘The Great Rhino Robbery’ – a three-part miniseries that follows a decade-long investigation into a crime syndicate monopolising the illegal wildlife trade. DSWF funding and support was critical and crucial to making the investigation a success, which eventually led to the arrest and conviction of the syndicate’s kingpin. Although the investigation initially focused on suspicious imports of rhino horn from supposedly ‘legitimate’ hunting operations in South Africa, it later exposed connections to tiger breeding farms in Laos. As a result of this investigation, the wildlife breeding license of the crime syndicate kingpin – known as the ‘Pablo Escabar’ of wildlife trafficking- was revoked, shutting down business and leaving the network in chaos.
Thanks to DSWF funding, our partners have successfully deployed four K9 dog units strategically across Northern India. These units, stationed in Burhapahar Range, Western range of Kaziranga, Orang National Park, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, are operating efficiently under the supervision of trained handlers.
One of the major community conservation awareness initiatives that our partners have been carrying out has been emphasizing the preservation of natural water sources and the planting of saplings to ensure sustainable oxygen levels in the region. By focusing on the protection and preservation of rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other natural water bodies, they aim to maintain vital habitats for the greater one horned rhino as well as many other species. Through community engagement and advocacy, our partners have spent the first quarter of this year working to mitigate threats such as pollution, habitat degradation, and over-extraction, promoting the wellbeing of both native wildlife and communities.
Namibia continues to play a crucial role in the conservation of African rhinos, hosting a significant portion of the critically endangered black rhino population. The north-western Kunene and Erongo regions of Namibia boast the largest population of free-roaming south-western black rhinos, a testament to over four decades of dedicated conservation work. A significant milestone was achieved this April, marking 44 consecutive months without poaching in this region, an achievement that highlights the effectiveness of the conservation strategies of our in-country partners. Their success is all the more impressive considering the shockingly high rates of rhino poaching in other parts of Namibia and in neighbouring South Africa. In 2023 in Namibia, 87 endangered rhinos were poached: the highest number on record and almost twice as many as the year before. Poachers killed 61 critically endangered black rhinos and 26 near threatened white rhinos, predominantly in Etosha National Park which accounted for 46 of the 87 rhinos found dead.
Central to Namibia's conservation efforts is robust rhino monitoring, which relies on dedicated field teams tirelessly patrolling the landscape. The success of these initiatives is evident in the Rhino Ranger Programme, which, over its decade-long existence, has demonstrated the positive impact of engaging and empowering local communities in conservation initiatives. The expected beneficiaries of these conservation programmes are the residents of communal rhino custodian conservancies. With over 15,000 residents facing financial hardship and poverty across 14 rangeland conservancies, Namibia's community-based natural resource management program has proven instrumental in alleviating these challenges. Local communities are experiencing tangible benefits from protecting rhinos, including increased employment opportunities and more income from tourism, highlighting the vital link between conservation efforts and socio-economic development.
Thank you, with your support, we can continue to protect rhinos across Africa and Asia.
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By Jo | Senior Fundraising Executive
By Jo B | Senior Fundraising Executive
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