Media Office

Welcome to the first report back for 2018 on the Integrated Strategic Management approach to combat rhino poaching.

Local craft brewery Growler just made it easier for every South African to raise a toast to the battle against rhino poaching and make a real difference with each draught.

Thank you for joining us here today for the report-back on the Integrated Strategic Management Approach to fight rhino poaching. This is the second report-back we are having for 2016, and forms part of our regular briefings to the nation on our progress in addressing rhino poaching.

On behalf of my colleagues we would like to thank everybody for joining us here today, especially our friends and allies in the media, because we cannot get our message out without your support.

South Africa’s leading outdoor brand, Camp Master has raised a total of R250, 000 for the Rhino Action Group Effort (RAGE) through the sale of vehicle mirror socks at selected Massmart stores.

Prompted by their concern for the plight of our rhino population, Acorn Group, owners of the Tabard brand, recently donated large quantities of their products to help keep some 700 game rangers mosquito-free this summer.

If our Rhino’s don’t have a future, what will ours be?

South African Youth Rhino Ambassadors & the World Youth Wildlife Declaration heading to Vietnam

Wilderness Safaris, in partnership with the Botswana and South African Governments, is delighted to announce the next phase of its pioneering rhino translocation programme.

Konica Minolta South Africa forms a three way alliance to protect rhino orphans

TW Steel partnership with Rhino Action Group Effort (RAGE) raises R260 000 to date

Consol introduces its Rands for Rhinos range, a conservation collection that helps protect our diminishing Rhino population! 

Great boost for rhino conservation as HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco becomes Patron of the Rhino Conservation Awards and Barclays Africa joins as sponsor.

Hanoi, Vietnam — Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued a top-level Directive to his line ministries prioritizing enforcement at all levels, and across ministries, to combat poaching and trafficking of African elephant ivory and rhino horn. 

South Africa’s Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Minister Edna Molewa has lauded the R232.2 million grant made to the Peace Parks Foundation by the Dutch and Swedish Postcode Lotteries.

Support our rhinos by just sipping a chilled Vergelegen 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from RAGE! Johannesburg collections only. Email: info@rhinorage.org

SOCKING IT TO THE POACHERS Buy Camp Master/RAGE vehicle mirror socks and donate towards this worthy cause while showing your rage against the devastating and criminal attacks on our rhinos.
 

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR SECOND RHINO CONSERVATION AWARD
 
Following the successful launch in 2012 of the Rhino Conservations Awards, the organisers are pleased to announce that nominations for the 2013 awards are now open.  These awards were created to recognize exceptional individuals and organisations for their efforts in protecting our rhino population.

Oversized Watch Brand to Support RAGE in South Africa with Special Edition Timepieces

In the last 11 months, for each vehicle sold within the 10 participating dealerships, Unitrans Volkswagen has pledged funds to fight rhino poaching in SANParks. At the end of July 2013 this amount stands at a fantastic R 1 175 500.

Branden Grace, one of South Africa’s top golfers and tipped by many to be a Majors’ winner in the future, has chosen RAGE as one of his preferred beneficiary causes. 

Rangers form the frontline in protecting our natural heritage for future generations. Their work is often dangerous, difficult, unappreciated, unrecognized, and unknown.

Veteran eco-warrior, extreme conservationist and 50/50 television presenter Braam Malherbe has written a comprehensive and insightful overview of the current state of the rhino wars and an analysis of the various solutions to the crisis. Here is a summary of his paper.

Unitrans Volkswagen is justifiably proud to announce their donation to the Unite against Poaching fund stands at a magnificent R 6 Million.  

Gland, Switzerland, 26 February 2013 – Nearly 2,400 rhinos have been poached across Africa since 2006, slowing the population growth of both African rhino species to some of the lowest levels since 1995, according to the latest facts revealed by IUCN experts.

Mozambican police on Sunday arrested a Vietnamese citizen, Ho Chien, at Maputo International airport in possession of six rhinoceros horns, weighing about 17 kilos.

RAGE congratulates SANParks on its new initiative and the appointment of Major General Johan Jooste in the fight against rhino poaching. 

50|50 Links 2012

A proposed framework for short-, medium- and long-term
responses by range and consumer States to curb poaching for
African rhino horn

The latest rhino poaching statistics indicate that a total of 455 rhinos have been lost to illegal killings since the beginning of this year, with the total number of arrests at 207.

To celebrate the anniversary of the first rhinos ever translocated in South Africa half a century ago, and in support of the fight against the poaching of these animals, the Rhinose Foundation has launched Rhinose Day.

Dr Larry Hansen, Chairman and CEO of Hasselblad the Swedish camera manufacturer  is pleased to announce the founding of a "Rhino Conservation Award". This project is in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa and The Game Rangers Association of Africa.  

The latest rhino poaching statistics indicate that a total of 430 rhinos have been lost to illegal killings since the beginning of this year, with the total number of arrests at 205. The Kruger National Park has lost 258 rhinos to poaching. Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the North West provinces continue to be the hardest hit by poachers, collectively accounting for the loss of 141 rhinos.

Symrise chats to John Robbie on 702 about their involvement with Rage

To view the latest report from TRAFFIC – The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network click here

Incredible Connection joins the fight against Anti-Rhino Poaching

Karabina talks to John Robbie about RAGE on the 3rd of September 2012

It must be recognised that all rhino reserves have varying levels of existing security, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and equipment. This ‘Needs Analysis’ is not intended to prescribe nor replace any existing security structures or protocols; it is intended to provide supplementary support where needed or requested.

Gareth Crocker from Tracker chats to John Robbie on Talk 702 about the importance of supporting RAGE and the movement against Rhino poaching in South Africa.

Dr Bandile Mkhize from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife chats to John Robbie about the recent arrests and the on-going yearlong sting operation.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has contributed a substantial amount to the Rhino Action Group Effort (RAGE). RAGE was set up by Lead SA (a Primedia Broadcasting and Independent Newspapers initiative) to assist in the fight against the illegal rhino poaching scourge. 

There used to be a time when 30 species of rhino roamed the planet. Today, only five species are left because of crime syndicates that poach rhinos. On average two rhinos are being poached every day in the greater Kruger Park. 

Rustenberg Wines, when approached by RAGE, jumped at the opportunity to get involved and chose 2 wines that could carry the RAGE (enRAGEd campaign) labels whereby each bottle sold (bought by consumers) will see Rustenberg contributing R20.00 directly to RAGE.

During a ceremony held in Pretoria, Unite Against Poaching handed a cheque of R 250 000 to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory of the University of Pretoria. This donation is in support of a project to create a Rhino DNA database. 

The number of rhinos poached in South Africa since the beginning of this year now stands at 281 with a total of 176 individuals arrested in connection with rhino poaching. The Kruger National Park has lost a total of 164 rhinos to illegal killings.

The war is turning preventative as opposed to reactive which is fabulous news. In fact, in one month 20 people were arrested and guns and vehicles seized BEFORE a rhino was harmed. 

For the past few weeks, Rhino Neal, Rand Merchant Bank’s famous Rhino mascot, has been proudly displayed next to the Rhino Billboard. Now kidnappers have taken him from his spot, and RAGE needs your help. 

A massive billboard will showcase the logos of companies who make significant donations to RAGE for the fight against illegal poaching. 

Thanks to public participation, exhaustive investigations and grim determination, several rhino were saved from poachers caught this week, signaling a turnaround in policing techniques and hope for further arrests and convictions.

Estimating the abundance of species in a particular area of interest presents significant challenges. There is ample room for error and this prevents conservationists from obtaining exact counts.

A midnight joint police and animal protection group operation has resulted in a shootout and the arrest of five suspected poachers, including the alleged syndicate head in North West.

Lead SA and its RAGE (Rhino Action Group) committee would like to congratulate all the authorities involved in the recent successful arrest, prosecution and sentencing of three rhino poachers. The three Mozambicans were sentenced to 25 years each by the Phalaborwa Regional Court after being found guilty of illegal rhino hunting in the Kruger National Park in July 2010.

The involvement of organised crime syndicates in the global trade in rhino horn has dramatically accelerated the levels of poaching of rhino in South Africa, and has catapulted the protection of rhino from an issue primarily contained within the conservation field, to one that has sparked widespread public condemnation.

We interview John Robbie: "This is not the beginning of the end for rhino poaching, but it just might be the end of the beginning!" 

Thanks to a generous contribution from cellphone network operator MTN, the producers of the animated movie of Jock of the Bushveld were able to donate a handsome amount from the proceeds of the Johannesburg premiere of the movie to RAGE. 

Sometimes we all fall prey to a sense of hopelessness – what can we do in the face of such overpowering force that the poachers have at their disposal?  Well, that’s precisely why RAGE was set up, to provide a safe haven for every contribution, no matter how modest...