Three rhinos are poached every single day in Africa. More than 1,000 rhinos have died in South Africa annually since 2012. The poaching threat continues to spread across borders and countries as illegal demand grows.  For the Limpopo-Lipadi Private Game & Wilderness Reserve, located in the Tuli Block in Botswana, preventing poaching through intelligent measures is critical to preserving the lives of these increasingly endangered animals.

This Reserve has invested into anti-poaching measures that are designed to protect the rhino, their legacy and the safety of all its animals. “There has been an increase in rhino poaching Botswana over the past few months – seven rhinos have been killed in Botswana since May - and we have implemented measures designed to counteract this worrying trend,” says Kevin MacFarlane, Reserve Manager of Limpopo-Lipadi.

“We have decided to double down on our anti-poaching efforts to keep rhinos out of harm’s way by upping our commitment to rigorous anti-poaching methods that include working with the Botswana government, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the Botswana Defence Force, investing into our own anti-poaching team and de-horning our rhinos.”

The reserve has invested into training and reinforcements for its anti-poaching unit and their work is further supported by the well-armed Botswana Defence Force. Highly trained tracker dogs, complement Kalahari bushmen trackers to patrol the perimeter to detect intruders on the reserve, night and the day. “As part of our conservation and anti-poaching efforts, The Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks has allowed us to de-horn our rhinos,” says MacFarlane.

“Thanks to this initiative, today we can say that there are no horns available for poaching in our reserve. We will be repeating this de-horning process at least once a year, so we can focus on our efforts to protect and breed rhinos and help rebuild their flagging numbers. We are also working closely with the Department’s anti-poaching unit to protect all wildlife in the Tuli Block.” Limpopo-Lipadi has become home to a number of rhinos over the past ten years. The de-horning programme will now allow for these animals to continue to breed safely - it forms a critical part of the reserve’s conservation efforts and draws a clear line under its anti-poaching stance.

It is also being undertaken with extreme care to ensure that the risk to the rhinos is minimal. “We work with one of the most experienced rhino vets in Southern Africa, Dr Erik Vereynne,” concludes MacFarlane. “His understanding of technique, drugs and animal care has meant that our rhinos have felt minimal stress throughout the procedure. Thanks to his work and our passion for protecting these magnificent animals we are making great strides in protecting the wildlife that thrives in our beautiful Reserve.”

To find out more about Limpopo-Lipadi Private Game & Wildnerness Reserve and its conservation work visit www.limpopo-lipadi.org or call: + 267 724 79048.

Set to take place from 22-25 September 2017, the Land Rover Waterford Festival 2017 will give Land Rover enthusiasts the chance to put the All New Discovery through its 4x4 paces.

They will also experience exclusive exhibits, a brand new 4x4 course, demonstrations and more. All the funds from the event are being donated to the Pittrack K9 conservation unit, a canine anti-poaching non-profit organisation protecting rhino and lion from being hunted and killed by well-armed and well-equipped poachers.“Land Rover Waterford is extremely excited to be involved with Pittrack and supporting the important work that they do,” says Darryl Harper, Dealer Principal, Land Rover Waterford.

“Their fresh approach is making a much-needed impact on poaching and their commitment reflects our own – to make South Africa a better place in the future by protecting our wildlife.

The Land Rover Waterford Festival 2017 is an important opportunity for us all to make a stand against poaching and, of course, to showcase our Land Rover’s capabilities.

”The event will see Plumari Private Reserve (home to Askari Game Lodge) reveal their brand new 4x4 course designed by the Land Rover Owner’s Club to challenge even the most advanced drivers. The perfect opportunity for the 4x4 enthusiast to test their mettle and be the first to break stony ground.

The Land Rover aficionado will also appreciate an exhibit of Land Rovers from 1948 to today and, for those who want to show off their own customised Land Rovers, there will be prizes and accolades for the serious collectors. Among the exhibitions will be the Land Rover Experience Terrapod, the Askari beer garden and two anti-poaching demonstrations a day.

The demonstrations will be hosted by Pittrack and will showcase the extraordinary poacher hunting abilities of these dogs.

“The Plumari Private Reserve and Askari Game Lodge are grateful to the men and women of Pittrack for their selfless contribution and sacrifice for the protection of our rhinos,” says Daniela McCormick, Plumari Group.

The Land Rover Waterford Festival 2017 will include plenty of exhibits, demonstrations, 4x4 expertise, food and entertainment. The cost is only R100 per vehicle and R25 per person per day, and there will be merchandise on sale on both the website and at the event. The goal is to raise funds for Pittrack while ensuring that everyone has the ultimate 4x4 weekend.

The Land Rover Waterford Festival will run an annual basis to support the anti-poaching unit. To find out more information about the exhibitors, event, location and accommodation visit http://www.waterfordlandroverfestival.com. To find out more about the Pittrack K9 conservation unit visit http://www.pittrack.co.za.

The Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at the University of Pretoria has developed a ground-breaking technique to collect and catalogue DNA from rhinos and rhino horn which could lead to more convictions of poachers and reduce rhino poaching in Southern Africa.  

Known as RhODIS, Rhino DNA Index System, the database stores the DNA, the unique genetic ‘fingerprint’ of every sampled rhino or horn. The database enables investigators to link poachers to crime scenes, to rhino which has been harmed or confiscated horn, with other evidence. “The RhODIS is similar to the human DNA database used by police and the American Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS),” advises project manager Dr Cindy Harper. “We take a tiny amount of DNA, less than 20mg of horn is needed, and this could be used as evidence in court. To date we have compiled more than 200 forensic reports based on our data, and had six successful high-profile convictions.”  

As one example, the RhODIS database helped identify the origin of confiscated horn from a Vietnamese trafficker less than six weeks after the rhinoceros was poached in the Kruger National Park.  

RhODIS, currently holds the DNA of more than 20,000 rhinos in Africa and it’s rapidly growing.  SAPS investigators, prosecutors, Green Scorpions, veterinarians and wildlife officials have been trained on the collection of DNA to ensure correct collection. “The collection and handling of samples for forensic investigation needs to be done meticulously in order to comply with chain-of–custody requirements,” comments Harper.  

Government and international backing

Dr Cindy Harper and her team began their work in 2009, and in 2012 the South African government passed a legislation stating that all captured rhinos and horns should be sampled and sent to VGL for inclusion in the database.   Through Dr Cindy Harper’s advocacy work in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Africa Rhino Program, RhODIS is gaining international recognition. The system and database is formally recognised by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group and all major African Rhino range states.  

Sample collection kits

Three types of sample collection kits have been created: a forensic kit for recovering DNA from poached animals, a routine kit for when a rhino is relocated, notched or undergoes any intervention and a horn kit designed to collect DNA from recovered horn. “The database also holds DNA samples from weapons and clothing from suspected poachers, evidence that can link suspects to specific poaching incidents,” adds Harper.  

Making use of tech

Working alongside the database, eRhODIS is a smartphone app that has been developed to provide guidance for users of the sampling kits to streamline collection and submission. “We wanted to ensure the data collected in the field is accurate and immediately available to the authorities,” adds Dr Harper.