18/02 Please read the Borakalalo story linked on the home page...16/02 Conserv reports white rhino found shot, front horn missing and still alive, Borakalalo. ( SRP will have more info tomorrow) ; 2 to 3 month-old carcass of a white rhino, horns removed, has been found in the Pilanesberg...15/2 NW successes so far this year: 20 arrests, 4 rifles, 4 vehicles and 3 horns. Well done!...14/02 Conserv reports 5 poachers arrested @ 01h25 NWest. 3 RSA, 1 Bots, 1 Zim citizens. total Beestekraal syndicate of 8 behind bars! Most grateful to SAPS and Crime Intelligence...13/02 Conserv reported news of another 2 rhinos poached, horns removed, Madikwe...11/02 Conserv reports 1 white rhino bull shot and wounded in Madikwe on Monday has died. Horns recovered...06/02 Conserv reports at 17h45 Rhino bull shot + - an hour ago, horns removed, Thabazimbi/Rooiberg area. Follow up in progress. Report from 10h16am: Black Rhino shot, horns removed at approx 5am this morning, Madikwe GR... 03/02 Conserv reports 3 poachers arrested, vehicle, firearm, axe confiscated in Beestekraal area. Was en route to carry out poaching. WELL DONE TO SAPS AND HAWKS!!... 03/02 Official stats from SANParks updated on our stats page...31/01 3 Mozambiquan poachers sentenced to a maximum of 25 yrs imprisonment each for poaching rhinos in KNP...30/01 Phat Phoung Hien found guilty for possession and transportation of horns in Pta North Magistrate Court. Sentenced to R100 000.00 fine or 4 years jail + a further 4 years jail suspended for 5 years. Accused will be deported...30/01 Conserv reports white rhino bull shot late last week, horns removed, north of Vaalwater...27/10 Conserv reports 3 members of a poaching sydicate arrested near Shoshanguve in an attempt to carry out poaching. Vehicle and firearms retrieved. Well done guys!...26/01 Public Parliamentary hearings on the rhino situation in Cape Town today...16/01 Conserv reports Zimbabwean arrested in possession of 3 fresh rhino horns (cow/calf) in Kameeldrift area. Also, 3 of 4 poachers arrested in Rooiberg area, pistol and rifle confiscated...15/01 Minister announces another 150 rangers for KNP this year...15/01 Conserv reports 1 white rhino shot twice, horns removed, 2 days ago Madikwe...11&12/01 News of 11 rhino poached in Kruger shocks us all...09/01/2012 Official stats for 2011 have been posted on our Stats Page...16/12 Conserv reports: 2nd rhino found today poached near Phalaborwa, 4 arrests made, fire arm and vehicle confiscated. 1st rhino was discovered wednesday... 15/12 Conserv reports 1 white rhino poached at Loskop Dam...14/12 Chinese National gets 6 years in jail for posession of rhino horn...13/12 Conserv reports 1 white rhino bull poached in Pilanesberg approx a week ago, horns removed...12/12 Conserv reports 2 white rhino carcasses, a week old, found in the Rooiberg area...11/12 There has been a huge upsurge in poaching incidents, particularly in the past week. Figures fall somewhere between 430 and 450, awaiting official numbers. In one of the latest incidents, a white rhino bull and cow were darted and de-horned in the Western Cape. Badly injured, they are still alive. There are so many monsters out there...06/12 Conserv reports 1 white rhino shot and wounded Borakalalo, NW... 05/12 Conserv follow up on Vaalwater incident: missing rhino cow found poached, horns removed. Calf being treated...04/12 Conserv reports rhino bull calf shot and wounded, mother still missing, Vaalwater area....01/12 Conserv reports 1 week old white rhino carcass, horns removed, found btw Schweizer Reneke and Christiana NW...25/11 Final Parade at Quemic for the 3rd group of APU members trained. A very proud day, well done to all!...24/11 Well known wildlife vet arrested, charges pending...15/11 Hong Kong Customs have confiscated 33 rhino horns (86kgs) shipped from Cape Town harbour...10/11 Conserv reports white rhino bull shot and wounded north of Vaalwater estimated Tuesday...later put down...09/11 Rhino bull poached at Loskop... 07/11 Rhino cow and calf darted and dehorned Shamwari, Eastern Cape. Calf has survived the attack...06/11 Two rhinos poached Mauricedale...04/11 Two Thai nationals suspected to be part of a rhino poaching syndicate arrested by SARS and the HAWKS at OR Tambo Airport. Well done guys!!...01/11 Conserv reports white rhino found poached, Madikwe Game Reserve...afternoon follow-up: shot through heart and lungs, horns removed, carcass 3/4 days old, found approx 800m from Botswana border...27/10 Rock for Rhinos raised R5 000 last night! To all who attended and supported, Kinky Robot and Cold War Candy Drop - THANK YOU!!! 25/10 Last Javan rhino in Vietnam poached in April, with only 40-60 remaining in Indonesia...24/10 Conserv reports: 2 white rhino poached yesterday, Sandveld, Free State...19/10 Conserv reports 1 white rhino in boma near Vaalwter shot 3 x with a bow. Still alive...10/10 Conserv reports 1 white rhino cow wounded, another shot/killed and horns removed. Carcass a week old, Kudoeskop area, Limpopo...30/09 Groenewald case in court today, and a whopping 1 872 charges were served against them. Excellent work to the investigations team and prosecutors!...28/09 23:40 Conserv confirms 1 rhino cow and calf shot, horns removed. Follow up in progress. Assen, North West...28/09 Conserv reports: follow up on poaching in Rooiberg. 1 cow wounded, round removed and in stable condition...27/09, 02h15am, Conserv reports 1 of 2 poachers shot and arrested in the Rooiberg area.Well done to all involved...23/09 THANK YOU JACARANDA 94.2 FOR AN INCREDIBLE WORLD RHINO DAY, AND TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED! R23 600 CAME IN YESTERDAY!!...22/09 Tune into Jacaranda 94.2 for World Rhino Day!...This friday, the Veterinary Genetics lab is having a fundraising braai @12:00 to raise funds for their rhino DNA project. Entrance is R20, which gets you a beer/soft drink and boerrie roll. RSVP by 15h00 today by smsing 0765486402...19/09 Thank you Mark Taylor and supporters for your donation of R5 260...15/09 Donations via the website topped R400 000.00 today. THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR RHINOS!...14/09 Conserv reports 1 rhino cow poached early this morning outside Brits, her small calf badly injured...13/09 Conserv reports 1 rhino poached in the Rust De Winter area within the last 3 days...09/09 Final Parade graduation at Quemic for Jacaranda's 2nd group of provincial armed field ranger candidates. 2 poachers killed in Kruger Park shoot-out. Rhino poached in Sabi Sand...01/09 Alleged syndicate leader Chumlong Lemtongthai has been refused bail and will appear again in court on September 15...28/08 Conserv reports 2 poachers arrested during attempted poaching near Vaalwater. Rifle, silencer and vehicle confiscated. Well done to Quemic, stock theft units and SAPS...28/08 Polokwane, 1 poacher shot dead, 2 more arrested of which was shot and wounded..25/08 Aquila's rhino ABSA, who's front horn was removed by poachers this past Saturday, died during the night...24/08 Rhino cow and young calf poached in the Waterberg region...23/08 Latest released figures on our statistics page, uploaded today...22/08 Conserv reports: 1 rhino found wounded (shot) in the Rooiberg Area. Red day period starts 24th August...21/08 Update, Aquila Game Reserve, Western Cape. 1 rhino darted & dehorned, treated by vets and OK so far. 2nd darted rhino untouched. The 3rd rhino, missing yesterday, was found dead and de-horned...19/08 News of 2 rhino poached in the Eastern Cape...16/08 Conserv reports rhino poached near Assen, N West, 09h15 this morning. Follow up in progress...15/08 4 suspected rhino poachers arrested in Welgevonden Pvt Game Reserve (Limpopo province) this evening in joint intelligence driven ops between Quemic and SAPS. Weapons with silencers, extra ammo, an axe and the getaway vehicle retrieved. EXCELLENT WORK!!!...13/08 AAWDC LCCSA 4 X 4 Family Fun Day in aid of our Eastern Cape Rhino Project a huge success. Thank you Salo and all involved!...13/08 Conserv reports: Congrats to the SAPS and Private APU's during hot pursuit in Vaalwater area, arrested 3 suspected poachers last night...10/08 Conserv reports 2 white rhino (a bull and cow) found poached, horns brutally removed, Rooiberg area Limpopo...08/08 Conserv reports 1 white rhino found poached, horns removed, Borakalalo. Caracass a month old...06/08 Conserv reports: 2 white rhino cows poached, horns removed, Vaalwater area...05/08 Conserv reports 2 black rhino carcasses found in Pilanesberg, horns removed. Killed approx 6 months ago...04/08 Conserv reports 2 Vietnamese Nationals in custody, convicted to 8 and 12 yrs for possession of 7 and 8 rhino horns. Well done to the Hawks...01/08 Conserv reports: Naboomspruit, 2 cows poached, horns removed. Missing calf of one poached cow found...29/07 Conserv reports CODE RED ALERT at 2 am, rhino poached 30 mins ago in Warmbaths. Follow up action in progres...28/07 Conserv reports 1 black rhino cow poached Pilanesberg, caracass approx 1 month old...21/07 Conserv reports: Vaalwater - White rhino bull poached last night both horns removed. Other news - 2 people intent on poaching arrested in Pretoria yesterday in possession of a dart gun and M99. Well done to the HAWKS!...11/07 Thai kingpin arrested by HAWKS, SARS on saturday...10/07 Conserv reports: rhino bull shot and wounded in the Rooiberg area. Rhino owners be on high alert...07/07 3 month old dehorned carcasses of a rhino cow and her calf, which starved to death, found Marloth Park... 21/06 News from Conserv: Rhino cow poached near Hoedspruit, carcass found yesterday. 3 month old calf now orphaned, and a 2nd calf from another cow injured in the same incident...17/06 1 White rhino poached near Cullinan...13/06 Conserv reports 2 cows, 1 calf shot in the Rooikraal area, Limpopo. Cows horns were removed...12/06 1 White Rhino found dead in snare, Limpopo. Horns recovered...04/06 Rhino poachers hit Swaziland for the first time in 20 years. White rhino cow poached last night, both horns removed...01/06 SAPS message to the anon report resent today. Thank you for excellent info, its being followed up...28/05 7 poachers arrested and 2 dead in SAPS trap in Malalane. Well done!...Black rhino bull poached in Pilanesberg, carcass 2 weeks old, horns removed...26/05 Conserv reports pregnant white rhino cow poached 6 to 8 days ago near Cullinan, both horns removed...23/05 Conserv reports 2 Congolese & 1 Taiwanese arrested this weekend in posession of rhino horn. Well done to the investigating team...17/05 We have also donated R30 000.00's worth of equipment to the Jacaranda Provincial Parks project, purchasing spotting scopes, binoculars and head lamps...16/05 20yr old rhino bull killed in the Pilanesberg, horns removed. Carcass 2 weeks old...09/05 Goodluck to the Righs For Rhinos team walking from Musina to Cape Town, starting today!...04/05 2 week old carcass found of a rhino cow poached 30km from Potch, North West...01/05 Rhino cow and small calf poached Naboomspruit...24/04 SANParks says 1 poacher killed, 3 arrested, 3 carcasses found KNP...19/04 more arrests and 2 poachers shot dead in Kruger. Well done SANParks and the SANDF!...The donation of R100 000.00 received by StopRhinoPoaching.com has been earmarked towards intelligence-gathering, investigations and informant fees. Investigators will work closely with and support fully the SAPS / NWCRU initiative... 11/04 Groenewald update: the full list of charges will be set on September 30, trial begins 23 April 2012...04/04 4 white rhino down in the Phalaborwa area, 1 caught and died in a snare, 2 poached...16/03 White rhino poached in the Thabazimbi area...08/03 Suspected rhino poacher shot in the Kruger National Park...04/03 3 rhino carcasses with horns removed discovered yesterday in the Dwesa Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape, 1 white rhino bull poached in Limpopo...26/02 News out of Limpopo Province: 6 rhino killed (1 of which was a black rhino) and separately to that some excellent arrests...12/02 Eastern Cape, Kariega - poachers dart and de-horn white rhino alive. Severely injured, it had to be euthanased...08/02 Four poachers shot dead in SA Parks...05/02 White Rhino Cow poached yesterday, front horn removed, Botsalano, NW Province... 31/01 SANParks announces 31 arrests for January. Well done!! New Rhino DNA Sample Kit unveiled...27/01 Poachers claim their first rhino in the Western Cape...16/01 News of rhino killed in Umfolozi...12/01 News of 5 poachers shot dead in Kruger....10/01 Pregnant rhino cow poached near Hoedspruit...05/01 - White Rhino cow killed in the Eastern Cape, both horns taken....28/12 9 year-old rhino cow killed in Mafikeng yesterday, horns removed... 17/12 Vusi, the little orphaned calf in our story Turning In Circles, died at the Rhino and Lion Park last night. To all who did their best to pull him through, our thoughts are with you... 06/12 White rhino cow and older calf killed this past weekend at Botsalano Game Reserve, North West. Her young calf was rescued this morning...22/11 Two Vietnamese nationals arrested in Beaufort West this morning with 15 rhino horns. Well done to the investigators!...19/11 Limpopo officials confirm 17 rhino carcasses found at Letaba Ranch...13/11 An outstanding effort by all involved in the successful arrest after the poaching incident in Naboomspruit. Thank you Conserv for mobilizing and managing support!...THE FLETCHER GANG, 22 RHINO KILLED, LAST MINUTE WITNESS INTIMIDATION FORCES THE STATE TO ASK FOR A POSTPONEMENT. JUDGE'S RULING TO STRIKE THE CASE FROM THE ROLL ALLOWS AUTHORITIES TO THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE INTIMIDATION AND BRIBERY OF WITNESSES AND ARRANGE FOR WITNESS PROTECTION....PLEA BARAGIN STATE WITNESS NICOLAAS VAN DEVENTER GOES BACK ON HIS WORD AND AT THE LAST MINUTE LETS THE STATE KNOW THAT HE REFUSES TO TESTIFY...click on our Jacaranda 94.2 Feelgood link for pictures...Our key rhino investigators receiving tip-offs via this site would like to thank everyone who has submitted a suspicious report...20/09 - HAWKS BUST GROENEWALD GANG IN JOINT OPERATION WITH SANPARKS, NATURE CONSERVATION, SARS AND THE CAA. TO ALL INVOLVED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, PERSERVERANCE AND EXCELLENT WORK!...10/09 JACARANDA 94.2 TELETHON RAISES OVER 1 MILLION RAND FOR RHINO PROTECTION AND R550 000.00 WORTH OF DONATED EQUIPMENT!...To the thousands of people and corporates that pledged their support, to everyone at Jacaranda, to all the celebs that manned phones, and to Martin Bester and Barney Simon, THANK YOU...Toyota hands over 2 Hilux Double Cab's to Pilanesberg to help fight poaching till December. THANK YOU Toyota!..

To all of you who have purchased Rhino Bands, stickers, candles and keyrings, all proceeds to date have gone towards the following handovers:

Total handovers value R52 300.00 as at 26/01/12

HANDOVER 9:
 
COMMUNICATIONS: We have purchased a simple cell phone, based with the Hawks, which has become the HAWKS RHINO HOTLINE. This phone also forms part of our RURAL AREAS PROJECT. Our partners BB Cement, who supply cement in rural areas across the country, will be distributing this number to encourage a rural informant network.
 
HANDOVER 8:
 
EQUIPMENT DONATION valued at R3 000.00 for the IDALO group, Eastern Cape. 
 
HANDOVER 7:
 
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT UPGRADE valuing R13 020.00 to Eastern Cape Parks. Communications are a vital element in the fight against rhino poaching and pose a challenge in remote areas. In order to help upgrade communications on one particular reserve in the E C we are proud to have co-sponsored necessary equipment with Olienhout Republic, who contributed a further R7 370.00.
 
As always, huge thanks  to the Olienhout guys for their continued commitment.
 
 
HANDOVER 6:
 
DONATION of 5 000 printed brochures to Eastern Cape Parks for circulation in local communities to help establish informant networks.
 
 
HANDOVER 5:
 
FUNDING DONATION of R2 000.00 to the Rhino DNA Databank at Onderstepoort.
 
HANDOVER 4:
 
EQUIPMENT DONATION of 9 Maglite torches, 5 pairs of 8 x 42 binoculars and 2 spotlights to the Eastern Cape Tourism and Parks Agency's new Special Investigations Unit.
 

HANDOVER 3: 
 
EQUIPMENT DONATION of 10 Tactical Torches, 1 utility knife and 1 green laser sight to Eastern Cape Parks. Sincere thanks to Serenity Crafts, Supermoto SA, Adventures with Elephants and all of you who have supported our Rhino Bands, Stickers and Keyring initiative.
 
HANDOVER 2: 
 
EQUIPMENT DONATION of 10 Tactical Torches to anti-poaching personnel in the Lowveld region. The X-Tactical 105 is a 550 lumen LED with a 6 mode operation including SOS flashing and quick mode flashing. Quick mode flashing can be effectively used to disorientate a suspect. Each torch comes with 3 filters: Red - better night vision and undetected by animals, green - good for map reading and blue for following blood spoor.
 
 
HANDOVER 1: 
 
EQUIPMENT DONATION of good quality knives and meat saws to Rusty Hustler, Head of Security for the North West Parks and Tourism Board. Processing a carcass (more often than not a good few days old) to retrieve evidence takes many painstaking hours and proper equipment to do a thoroughly unpleasant but critical job.
 

THREE DONATIONS GO HAND IN HAND.

Shortly after launching StopRhinoPoaching.com we received a donation of four mountain bikes from Cathy Knight, based in Mpumalanga. Two phone calls later, and they had found a home with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency's anti-poaching unit. Short of one bike, wildlife helicopter pilot John Bassi donated his own mountain bike. In the mean time we had received an email from Aidan Romanis of Lite Optec, offering us a donation for guys out in the field. Aidan's gesture has led not only to 5 Maglite Torches and 5 Gerber Multi-tools making their way to the Mpumalanga Parks APU, but also to Lite Optec supporting both the website and the Jacaranda 94.2 Parks Project.
To Cathy, John, Aidan, and everyone at Lite Optec - YOUR GENEROSITY WILL GO A LONG WAY. Looking after anti-poaching and field ranger teams not only boosts morale, but shows these guys - who put their lives at risk for rhinos - just how important they are. THANK YOU!

YOUR DONATIONS

Thank you to all who have supported the StopRhinoPoaching Fund. We have received donations from all walks of life, from within South Africa's borders and abroad. From children donating their pocket money and schools organising collections, to newlyweds giving to rhinos rather than giving each guest a small gift at their wedding tables. We have been supported by so many remarkable people, pensioners, associations, small businesses and corporates all wanting to make a difference. Thank you!

StopRhinoPoaching.com has earmarked funding towards intelligence-gathering, investigations and informant fees. To date, R220 000.00 has been spent in this regard. Investigators work closely with and support the SAPS / NWCRU initiative.

StopRhinoPoaching.com focuses on Level 1 requirements - training and equipment - as well as other areas as identified in the National Needs Analysis.

StopRhinoPoaching.com proudly initiated and sponsors the HAWKS RHINO HOTLINE - report intel directly to the SAPS HAWKS rhino investigators, 071 348 8630

Handover # 14 (Facilitated)

Handover # 13 (Facilitated)

TRAINING DONATION from Olienhout Republic. This remarkable residence of young men from TUKS University raised enough funding in 3 months to sponsor the training and full kit of a senior APU member from the Pilanesberg. Their on-going commitment to help rhinos should serve as an inspiration to us all and shows what can be achieved with team work and dedication.

  

 

Handover # 12

EQUIPMENT DONATION of just over  R4 000.00 was handed over by Brett Barlow to Rodney Visser, head of security for the IDALO Group in the Eastern Cape.

Handover # 11

TRAINING DONATION of R30 000.00 towards the advanced training of 8 rangers from Eastern Cape Parks. For more information please visit our Eastern Cape Rhino Project page.

A proud moment for the 8 Eastern Cape Rangers, having just received their certificates and medals after 6 weeks of intense training. Their training was made possible thanks to: The Land Cruiser Club of South Africa, represented here by Salo de Swardt (bottom left), who collected over R80 000.00 from sponsors and the 4 x 4 community. Quemic Integrated Security Solutions, who trained the 8 rangers as part of their social responsibility program, is represented by Li Lotriet (top left) and Kassie Knoetze (top right). StopRhinoPoaching.com represented by Elise Daffue.

Handover # 10 (Facilitated)

EQUIPMENT DONATION to the North West Parks and Tourism Board on behalf of Jacaranda 94.2, Snack Arena and The Crescent Crawlers. 

In their on-going support of rhino protection in the province, Jacaranda 94.2 donated 5 torches and 3 pairs of binoculars to be utilized by the APU in Borakalalo outside Brits. Two hand-held radios were also handed over to improve communications in two other reserves, namely Mafikeng and Botsalano.

Snack Arena and Eets Footlong Time, an event catering company and service provider to amongst others Soccer City, Orlando Stadium, Coca-Cola Park and Supersport Park have been supporting StopRhinoPoaching.com since January. Their donation of R5 000 has purchased the following equipment for the Board, to be used by 3 North West Rangers currently training with Quemic: 3 torches, 3 multi-tools, 3 headlamps. Buddy kit: 2 spotting scopes, 2 pairs of binoculars and 2 binocular harnesses.

The Crescent Crawlers and Johannesburg Architecture Run participants, a group of 80 lady runners, contacted us wanting to make a donation to help rhino. The ladies have subsequently purchased 5 hand-held radios for use in Borakalao,  which will improve communications within the park substantially.

Thank you for all for your invaluable contributions.

 

Handover # 9

DONATION of R20 000.00 to the Onderstepoort Genetics Lab, to help fund the Rhino DNA project. Please see the Rhinos Alive Campaign on our Donate Page to see how you can help this vital project.

Handover # 8

EQUIPMENT HANDOVER including 15 spotting scopes, 15 pairs of binoculars and 15 headlamps, all valued at R30 000.00, to the provincial field ranger candidates enrolled for the Jacaranda Training Project. These items will be used in 7 provincial rhino reserves across 3 Provinces in South Africa.

Handover # 7

EQUIPMENT HANDOVER of a high-end Dell laptop for use by a senior investigator in high profile rhino cases.

Handover # 6

VODACOM AIR TIME DONATION to investigators in Mpumalanga, to help cover call costs and respond to informants.

Handover # 5

EQUIPMENT DONATION of 20 handheld radio batteries to Manyeleti Game Reserve in Mpumalanga. Radio comms remain a crucial aspect of proactive and reactive patrolling. This donation will enable field rangers to not only communicate within the reserve, but with neighbouring reserves as well.

Handover # 4

EQUIPMENT DONATION of a metal detector to the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency.

Handover # 3

TRAINING DONATION of a Forensics Investigation and Evidence Handling Course for a member of the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency.

Handover # 2

EQUIPMENT DONATION of a metal detector to investigators covering a large section of the Limpopo Province, including the Naboomspruit area. A metal detector is important to help locate bullets in a carcass as well as nearby cartrdiges, which in turn are vital for ballistics, syndicate profiling and as evidence in court.

Handover # 1

EQUIPMENT HANDOVER of four 3-Terrabyte External Hard Drives and four High Speed Portable Scanners to help investigators with evidence processing and storage.

 

A list of qualifying criteria needs to be met before any handover is considered. Our sincerest appreciation to Committee Members within the WRSA PROA for their valued input into all requests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The StopRhinoPoaching Fund is made possible by Wildlife Ranching South Africa. For further information on the WRSA, please visit www.wrsa.co.za