Supporting the Rhino Community

The Australian Rhino Project acknowledges the work of in-situ conservation groups and anti-poaching units, as well as those that are working to curb the demand for horn through behaviour change campaigns in Asia. The Australian Rhino Project members and collaborators have a long history of supporting rhinoceros conservation within range states, and The Australian Rhino Project continues to explore opportunities to promote and sustain rhinoceros conservation broadly.

Rhino Protection Units

Taronga is a founding member of the International Rhino Foundation and provides support for a range of activities in Asia and Africa. This is achieved through Taronga's on-ground partner Yayasan Badak Indonesia (YABI), who have employed 7 RPUs in Bukit Barisan National Park and 5 units in Way Kambas. The RPUs are undertaking patrolling and surveillance activities to deter poaching activity and monitor populations of rhino along with other endangered species including tigers and elephants and removing snare traps placed by illegal hunters. Another key focus in Way Kambas is improving fire response, which is a long term project to battle fires started by illegal poachers. Taronga has supported these efforts through the purchase of two trucks and equipment and results are being seen with forest regeneration in prime tiger habitat areas as a result of these improved protection measures. Poaching remains an issue with an elephant poached in 2014, but the last rhino recorded poached there was in 2006.

In Africa, the IRF signature program is in Zimbabwe’s lowveld region where the population of Black Rhino has increased from 4% of the national total in 1990 to 85% at the end of December, 2015. This result has been achieved through biological management, strategic translocations, dehorning and support for anti-poaching.

Land acquisition and protection

Through our conservation grant to WildAsia, who partner with Indonesian organisation Kalaweit, they are committed to purchasing additional land adjacent to Supayang Reserve as it becomes available through direct negotiation with landholders. They anticipate the acquisition of approximately 50 additional ha to their current land they are managing for conservation purposes to guarantee the long term protection of the area. This allows them to have a positive impact on mitigating habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade with rangers patrolling the area (horseback patrol units – effective and covers a greater area), provide sanctuary and security for rhinos as well as a range of endangered species.

Breaking the Brand

Taronga supported Breaking the Brand with financial support of $4000 towards their demand reduction campaign. The campaign achieved some great outcomes in the first 12 months including;

• Establishing clear user profiles of the primary groups using genuine rhino horn in Vietnam
• Analysed and established motivations to use rhino horn, as well as to stop using rhino horn
• Used this information to develop specially targeted behaviour change ads for the primary user groups identified (all in Vietnamese)
• Developed their web presence, social media, website etc and have started bringing on board mainstream media to get behind the campaign

The Northern Rangelands Trust and Sera Conservancy, Kenya

Since 2011, Monarto Zoo and Zoos South Australia have been supporting rhinos in Africa through our work with The Northern Rangelands Trust in northern Kenya. During this time, Black Rhinos have been reintroduced back into Sera after previously being poached to extinction in the community lands of northern Kenya.

Zoos SA has donated around $156,000 (AUD) to support a community-led ranger program that patrols the Sera Conservancy, one of 33 conservancies managed by The Northern Rangelands Trust to prevent poaching and livestock theft. Zoos SA has financially supported 36 of these dedicated rangers who provide security to both humans and wildlife by paying for their wages, providing life insurance and funding education programs for the children of rangers lost in the line of duty.

Not only has Zoos SA conservation support ensured better security for both people and wildlife, it has also boosted the economic livelihood of the community members and funded a variety of community development projects, which has improved living standards.

Adelaide and Monarto Zoo sell beautifully decorated beadwork produced by local women. The income that women receive through the sale of beadwork has benefits for both the community and wildlife; it provides an alternative income that improves health and nutrition, helps pay for children’s’ schooling and reduces the communities’ reliance on livestock, leaving more resources for the native wildlife. Since 2011, Zoos SA have raised more than $80,000 (AUD) which has been returned to the women and communities.

Honorary Rangers, Kruger National Park

Since 2009, Zoos SA has been raising funds to support the Honorary Rangers in Kruger National Park in their fight to save rhinos through an annual tour to Southern Africa organised by Zoos SA. All monies raised from the camp are used to buy modern equipment needed to try and give an edge to the rangers in their fight against rhino poaching. From these tours Zoos SA estimate that they have contributed over $60,000 towards these fundraising efforts.