Our Projects: Saving the last 'truly wild' black rhinos
DSWF supported since: 1994
In the mid 1980s, a savage slaughter of wildlife, particularly of the black rhino which suffered a catastrophic 98% decline throughout Africa, was taking place in Namibia. The world's last remaining population of desert-adapted rhino, together with the desert elephant, was facing extinction. Rhino numbers were reduced to approximately 30 animals in the beautiful, remote landscape of Damaraland and Kunene province.
Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) was set up by the late Blythe Loutit and other concerned individuals, to work with government and local leaders to conserve the rhino in communal lands by means of anti-poaching patrols and monitoring of the animals. SRT actively conducts, promotes and supports community conservation with benefits received through tourism going to the local population.
Today, rhino numbers in the area have increased to between 100-200 and they are now the last truly wild black rhinos in Africa, not fenced or under armed guard. This has only been possible by anti-poaching work, monitoring and working with village communities, government officials and tourist concession holders, and there is now greatly increased local employment, an emphasis on the important role of women in the community, local education and awareness programmes.
As one of SRT's longest standing and most important international donors, DSWF's grants have funded the unique rhino database, which is now being used as a format for other wildlife monitoring programmes. Money is currently used to fund on-going monitoring and anti-poaching work, community education and awareness programmes, local wildlife workshops, equipment and tourism ventures.
