With rhino poaching on the rise across the country, a non-profit organisation, Rhino Connect has come up with an initiative called Rhino Moon (Renostermaan) to help private rhino owners in Limpopo with an anti-poaching project over the full moon period as poachers often use this time to perform their gruesome crimes.
The initiative, launched in 2016 is also aimed at educating residents about the importance of rhinos and how to protect them. Tersia Jooste, Rhino Connect Director and Field and Volunteer Project Coordinator stated that there are in excess of 7 000 rhinos on private farms across the country and the owners live under serious risk. She said volunteers and residents who attend Rhino Moon weekends engage in a number of activities and assist the guards to patrol the farms to ensure the rhinos’ safety. Jooste emphasised that they had several incidents targeting animals during Rhino Moon programmes but never lost a rhino. She indicated that thus far the project had yielded positive results and stated that on private farms one rhino gets killed every three days while three are killed every day in public game reserves.
“We host Rhino Moon projects once a month and over 350 people attended so far but the challenge is that most of the attendees are from Gauteng rather than Limpopo. The foundation also assists farm owners financially to buy food for rhinos especially in winter because food is scarce. We don’t get funding hence we depend on donations to run our projects,” she explained.
The organisation works closely with Limpopo Rhino Security Group and a group representative who wished to stay anonymous said in 2016 there were 16 private rhino owners in the province but now they are left with only ten because majority of owners lose hope and close shop. She further said the law enforcement agencies in Limpopo are doing their best to fight rhino poachers but lack of adequate resource seems to be a problem and pleaded with the public to help save rhinos.
Jooste also pleaded with the public to support the Rhino Moon initiative to help save rhinos. She said participants have to pay a certain amount to be part of the programme and called on businesses to support them financially. Those who are willing to attend Rhino Moon programmes or help the organisation financially can contact Jooste on 083 759 1608 or email her on tersia@rhinoconnect.co.za or visit their website www.rhinoconnect.co.za.
Story and photo: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
