South Africa has achieved unprecedented success over the past four decades with the preservation of rhino, to the point that it is now home to over 90 percent of all rhinos in Africa. Our founder Dr Ian Player is well known as being the initiator and team leader of the innovative and internationally acclaimed project ‘Operation Rhino’ in the late 1960′s. Through relocation, safe breeding groups were established elsewhere in the country and in the world. Operation Rhino successfully saved the southern white rhino from extinction and by 2010 there were over 17,000 white rhino in South Africa. Unfortunately this conservation success also makes South Africa a prime hunting ground for those seeking rhino horns illegally.
In 2007 South Africa lost 13 rhino to poaching- By 2009 the number had reached 124
- In 2010 it rocketed to 335 and
- to date in 2011 (1 April) the number is already 110 which means that there is a rhino being poached every day.
Poaching trends and the levels of sophistication in the killing of rhino, backed by enormous resources, are very alarming and require urgent intervention.
The members of the Wilderness Nework, which includes Wilderness Foundation UK, Wilderness Foundation South Africa and Wild are calling for urgent action to address steadily increasing levels of rhino poaching in South Africa. You can support our efforts by signing this petition.You can add further support to the Forever Wild campaign by downloading this letter and mailing it to your local political leader.
For further information on the Forever Wild Campaign working to address rhino poaching please click here. Please note: this webpage contains video material which those of a sensitive nature may find upsetting.
Thank you for your support.