Game rangers need to think like detectives and not let any suspicious activity go unnoticed when it comes to protecting rhino from, and investigating, poaching incidents.
Game rangers need to think like detectives and not let any suspicious activity go unnoticed when it comes to protecting rhino from, and investigating, poaching incidents.
This is what Chipembere Rhino Foundation founder Brent Cook stressed to a group of about 30 Eastern Cape Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) members.
He was speaking to guides in the province at their annual general meeting held at Kariega Private Game Reserve, near Grahamstown, recently.
Chris Reynecke, co-ordinator for FGASA in the province, said the AGM gives guides a chance to get together and share their knowledge and experiences.
"It pains me how this treasured species is a target of poachers," Cook said. "We need to up our game in protecting the rhino, like we have upped our game with monitoring the threat of poaching incidents."
He urged guides to be suspicious of anyone when it comes to poaching.
"Think like an investigator and follow up on a hunch. Rhinos are not always in the same place, someone is privy to that information," Cook said. "More rhinos could be poached so we need to be keepers of the rhino."
Since establishing Chipembere in late 2010, Cook says the Foundation has been using all the technology available to monitor South Africa's surviving rhinos.
"We have done microchipping and ear-chipping, and we have collared over 50 animals," he said.
The collars are used to track and monitor rhinos' movement and behaviour. Cook estimates there are about 18 000 white rhino and approximately 3 000 black rhino left in SA.
He didn't want to say how many were left in the province for safety reasons. National FGASA director and chairman Vernon Cresswell said they fight a daily battle against rhino poaching.
He announced that he and FGASA standards director, Brian Serrao, would donate a collar each to the Chipembere Foundation.
These cost around R2 500 each and will go to two rhinos in the province. Cook said they appreciate all the support they get as Chipembere is a non-profit organisation.
He thanked Cresswell and Serrao, saying they will donate the collars to a particular reserve once they find suitable candidates. Cook explained that he felt compelled to start the foundation because, he says, the animals have become his life.
"My life was and is rhino. It started from the enjoyment of breeding the animal, now it has became my life. I would not sit back and think that someone will come and help me," Cook said.
He said Chipembere was established in November 2010 after Amakhala Game Reserve, between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth, lost two rhinos to poachers in one night.
Chipembere means 'white rhino' in Shona.
