In light of the recent surge in rhino poaching in South Africa, conservationists are looking for alternative ways to monitor and track rhino and rhino collaring is one of the options being explored.
My previous blog about the elephant collaring in Zululand happened the same day that we did this rhino collaring. After the team had collared the elephant the chopper set off to find a bull white rhino. Wildlife ACT Fund‘s Simon Morgan and Chris Kelly have been assisting with the development of a state-of-the-art tracking collar that fits tightly around a rhino’s back leg. The tracking device will assist with monitoring the rhino on the reserve more effectively.
Nine other rhino were collared over the same weekend at a neighbouring reserve in Zululand. Three varieties of tracking devices were attached to the rhino to determine which version is more effective in terms of cost and tracking ability.
Look out for the Wildlife ACT Fund’s ‘Limited Edition’ rhino shopping bag in Woolworths stores countrywide on 1 July 2012. Proceeds go towards the work the Wildlife ACT Fund is doing with the WWF – Black Rhino Range Expansion Project and the Aerial Surveillance Project of Project Rhino KZN, an association of entities engaging with one another around rhino conservation in KwaZulu-Natal.
If you would like to make a difference in the fight against rhino poaching but are not sure how, read Christie Fynn’s blog on the top 5 rhino charities that would benefit from your support.
