First aid course for rangers at the forefront of rhino protection
Rangers taught life-saving skills to assist in the fight against rhino poaching.
StopRhinoPoaching.com, was founded in 2010, and was initially meant to be an independent web-based platform dedicated only to raising much-needed awareness and support for the war against rhino poaching.
Recently the organisation celebrated the completion of one of its most significant projects yet.
Through a collaborative effort with ER24, Jacaranda FM, CTM and medical supply company MedDev, 205 Kruger Park rangers, including section rangers and the Air Wing, underwent ER24’s Tactical First Aid Course.
In addition, 145 specialised trauma packs kitted for managing gunshot wounds and heavy bleeding were deployed and each person on the course was given a tourniquet.
Founding director of StopRhinoPoaching.com, Elise Daffue, said, “For the first time ever, there is a tactical first aid capability across the Kruger National Park.
“Earlier this year we saw the first Kruger ranger being shot by poachers.
“He and his fellow rangers had attended the ER24 course and as a result, knew how to manage the gunshot wound and had the right kit to do so, thereby saving the ranger’s life.”
- StopRhinoPoaching.com’s aim:
“I had a gnawing feeling for some time that there was something I was supposed to be doing to help rhinos, I just did not know what it was.
“After a particularly horrific poaching incident, the idea of the website hit me,” said Daffue.
“At the time, there was little information available on rhino poaching and what was happening in South Africa, and what started off as a web-based platform focusing on credible content and awareness, soon turned into a full-time responsibility of managing donations and supporting rhino reserves.”
All of the organisation’s projects are focused on rhino protection, starting with the basics and then, helping to build capacity.
Daffue added that the organisation’s biggest strength lies in the fact that they have strong and trusted relationships with the majority of key rhino reserves and security initiatives around the country.
“This network has meant that we have been able to support strategic requirements in these areas.” she said.
To date, StopRhinoPoaching.com has sponsored various types of training for over 420 rangers and 50 reserve managers.
A total of 29 rhino dogs have been deployed with another four currently being trained.
“We also do a lot of networking, relationship building and information sharing.
“One of the projects close to my heart is Project Embrace, a ranger wellness project that we are funding in the Kruger together with CTM and the International Rhino Foundation.
“We sponsor specialised psychological support for the rangers and their families, a critical intervention to curb stress levels and help prevent burn out,” said Daffue.
She added that rangers live with incredible stress, endure all kinds of hardships in the bush and sacrifice a great deal.
“Rangers are the ones who stand between a rhino and a poacher and we need to be doing everything we possibly can to support them, they are doing their level best out there.
“Poaching, especially the cruelty and senseless killing, conjures up all sorts of emotions and doing this kind of work means that you do get emotionally involved.
“You give a lot of yourself and you grow close to the people who are out there fighting the fight every day,” said Daffue.
- Poaching:
Speaking about the extent of rhino poaching in South Africa, Daffue said that it is not going to be a short-term problem with a quick fix.
“The reality is that our rhinos are being heavily targeted by organised crime syndicates – well-connected criminals with well-developed networks.
“To them, rhino horn is just another commodity to make a lot of money and gaining ground is going to take a long-term commitment at every level, but I believe that the commitment thus far is paying off,” she said.
Daffue said that the escalation of poaching between 2008 to 2014 was alarming and in response rhino reserves around the country mobilised and made massive investments into protection strategies.
Through lessons learnt and shared, by the end of 2015 the statistics showed, for the first time, a slight decrease in the figures.
“While every rhino life lost is one too many, this small victory is testimony to the tremendous efforts being made, especially when one gauges this crisis in the context of the crime threat we are facing and considers the ruthless and flexible nature of the poachers,” said Daffue.
- Support and funding:
To date, StopRhinoPoaching.com has channelled over R12-million to the rhino cause, all made possible by donors.
“StopRhinoPoaching.com has had the pleasure of working with some incredible people and companies, all of them determined to help in some way.
People have arranged sporting events and challenges while others have held office collections, schools have run rhino projects and children have raised funds.
“In addition, StopRhinoPoaching.com has been the NGO partner of Jacaranda FM’s Purple Rhino Project since having been established.
“Had it not been for the incredible support from companies and the public, a lot more rhinos would have died at the hands of poachers,” said Daffue.
She added that funding support from credible organisations can truly make a difference.
The ER24 team is one such organisation, one she said has been a rewarding experience.
“They took the Tactical First Aid Course project to heart, shared their passion and experience with the rangers and have taught life-saving skills, this project have been a godsend to the rangers.
“Thanks so much to ER24 and all the sponsors who made this possible and we are proud that further courses are on the cards,” said Daffue.
Other articles you may be interested in:
The Lowvelder’s article – How to keep man’s best friend also rhino’s best friend PLUS VIDEO of Kruger ranger dogs
