Saving Rhinos
The rhino is both a national and international asset and the number being poached per year has risen exponentially over the past five years. This escalation has brought with it a huge risk of job loss for local community members employed in the tourism sector. It has also introduced dangerous crime in local areas as communities are used as conduits to protected areas that are home to the region’s rhino.
Although the Sabi Sand Wildtuin and conservation agencies as a whole, have done everything they can in terms of protecting the rhino, increased security needs to be coupled with an effort to win the hearts and minds of the local communities.
A conversation with communities was started to hear their ideas and perspectives on poaching issues. One tangible outcome was the creation of environmental and rhino ambassadors in the local communities. These positions were established through working together with a government job creation programme. These ambassador positions created 11 new jobs in the area, with one ambassador acting as a champion for the environment in each community directly neighbouring the reserve.
The ambassadors are trained in community engagement, awareness and campaigning. They also liaise with the reserve, the reserve security and protection forces in solving the rhino problem.