THE KEY TO SURVIVAL
Through our 3 main focus areas – Security and Protection, Education and Awareness, and Community and Conservation – we are building a vast network of solutions, partners and supporters to help us reach our mission to protect the rhino.
SECURITY & PROTECTION
Security clusters HAVE BEEN INitiated IN THE WATERBERG and with more funding the aim is to cover the entire region. This involves the installation of LPR cameras that use state of the art software. THESE Can track vehicles ACTING SUSPICIOUSLY all the way to Kruger National Park and beyond nationally, so that information can be shared and criminals apprehended.
Equipment for rangers constantly needs upgrading so that they can have access to the best communication units, intelligence systems, bullet-proof vests and even bivvy tents to improve their lives out on patrol.
Please watch DUSK TO DAWN – LIFE OF A RANGER, following on patrol.
THE rhino
TWO SPECIES: BLACK AND WHITE
LIFESPAN: 40 YEARS
GESTATION: 16 MONTHS
DIET: HERBIVORES
PREDATORS: HUMANS
LIFESPAN: 40 YEARS
GESTATION: 16 MONTHS
DIET: HERBIVORES
PREDATORS: HUMANS
THE DIFFERENCEES
WHILE VASTLY SIMILAR, THE BLACK RHINO AND
WHITE RHINO HAVE SOME VERY KEY DIFFERENCES – AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR COLOUR!
CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO LEARN MORE:
DID YOU KNOW A RHINO CAN REACH A SPEED OF 30 MPH?
*The top speed of the fastest man on earth, currently Usain Bolt, is 27.8mph*
AND THOUGH THEY ARE POOR SIGHTED, THEY MAKE UP FOR IT WITH AN ACUTE SENSE OF HEARING AND SMELL!
EDUCATION & AWARENESS
Education and environmental awareness are a vital component of conservation. Many children who live in the local towns of the Waterberg have never even seen a rhino, although it is living on their doorstep.
Through community-led projects, with which WRUK has established connections, children are introduced to the bush and its wildlife through workshops, residential courses and mentoring programmes.
It is important to create rhino champions for the future.
Simple and sustainable projects such as helping to create food gardens can make a real difference. With a small amount of funding, manual labour and seeds, schools can grow vegetables that can be used to feed children and also sell back into the community to earn money. The children also benefit from learning about garden husbandry.
Please watch GARDENS OF HOPE – the food gardens of the Waterberg.
COMMUNITY & CONSERVATION
Tourism is the major employer in the Waterberg. Visitors come wanting to see the ‘Big Five’ in their natural habitat. Investment in the tourist industry creates economic benefits to the local community. More opportunity and better lives mean people can find employment and support their families, resulting in less temptation to serve the evil poaching gangs that prey on susceptible individuals.
Here is an opportunity to support a community that protects the wildlife; at the same time the wildlife acts as a resource to provide economic benefit to the community.
The community is key in the rhino’s survival.
Many of the private game reserves in the Waterberg have their own conservation programmes – by supporting them, much–needed income is brought into the region to the benefit of the wildlife.
THE COMMUNITY
POPULATION: 750,000
AVERAGE AGE: 23
MAIN LANGUAGE: SEPEDI
AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME: R29,400
AVERAGE AGE: 23
MAIN LANGUAGE: SEPEDI
AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME: R29,400
THE TOURISM
65+ GAME LODGES
80% OF RHINO PRIVATELY OWNED
FROM BASIC TENTED CAMPS TO 5* LUXURY
MALARIA FREE AREA
WILDLIFE & HABITAT
JUST THREE HOURS DRIVE NORTH FROM JOHANNESBURG, THE WATERBERG IS A RENOWNED UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, LISTED SINCE 2001 AS A BIOSPHERE RESERVE, KNOWN FOR ITS SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPE AND RICH DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE.
AN AREA OF UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY – FROM THE BIG 5 TO RED LIST ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE THE AARDVARK AND BROWN HYENA, AND ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING ROAMING PACKS OF WILD DOG – THIS MALARIA-FREE HAVEN HOSTS EXCEPTIONAL SAFARI LODGES THAT CATER TO A VARIETY OF TOURISTS AND TASTES.
THE WILDLIFE
THE BIG 5
ALL MAIN ANTELOPE SPECIES
GIRAFFE
ZEBRA
200+ SPECIES OF BIRD
THE HABITAT
45,315 SQ KM
MOUNTAIN, SAVANNAH & RIVER
UNESCO BIOSPHERE
MALARIA FREE
80% OF THE SIZE OF KRUGER
ENDANGERED SPECIES
BLACK RHINO
PANGOLIN
BROWN HYENA
AARDVARK
CAPE VULTURE
PANGOLIN
BROWN HYENA
AARDVARK
CAPE VULTURE