The Chipembere Rhino Foundation is a privately run, registered non-profit organization committed to on the ground assistance in the protection and conservation of Africa’s rhino. Funds raised allow for the purchase of equipment for anti-poaching units, the supply of technology based equipment to better monitor rhino populations and research in veterinary procedures that help protect and record individual rhino populations.
Introduction
The Chipembere Rhino Foundation is a privately run, registered non-profit organization IT/95/2011 committed to assisting in the protection and conservation of Africa’s rhino. This once highly endangered species, whose total population in the early 1950′s amounted to fewer than 500 animals as a result of the pressure of poaching had clawed its way back, thanks to a small yet dedicated team of conservationists. These conservationist’s efforts resulted in one of Africa’s most amazing conservation success stories, that success is today evident in Africa’s approximate 18,500 White Rhino and 3000 Black Rhino. But in recent years the poaching threat has escalated to a current rate exceeding 1 rhino poached per day! Africa’s rhino are again under pressure and is now facing a threat that could take them back to the brink of extinction. For an animal that has been in existence for around 50 million years, the world would be at a great and tragic loss without this species.
With 95% of the world’s White and Black rhino population in Southern Africa, we are the custodians of this species and we have to give the rhino a future.
We need all the help we can get to help maintain their chances of survival.
History
The Chipembere Rhino Foundation was established in November 2010 after Amakhala Game Reserve lost two rhinos in one poaching incident. This devastating loss was what galvanised the idea to not let this slaughter continue without a concerted effort from ourselves as custodians of Africa’s wildlife and to contribute to the global awareness of what is happening on not just state controlled land but private land where passionate conservationist struggle to maintain Africa’s amazing diversity all the while under increasing pressure from population explosion and criminal elements that seek to make fortunes off the decimation of what makes Africa, Africa, it’s wildlife! Adamant that these animals have not died in vain, we are committed to remembering them through this very foundation.
Amakhala Game Reserve’s small breeding population of white rhino was introduced in 2003 and formed the basis of a long term project that would see a small contribution to the conservation of rhino in Africa. The slaughter of these two bulls put an abrupt end to this project and has since rendered the Amakhala Game Reserve’s population static.
‘Chipembere’ means ‘rhinoceros’ in Shona, an African language, and this name is quite fitting in that our main breeding bull that we lost was known as ‘Chippy’. The other bull, Isipho, meaning ‘gift’ in Xhosa, was indeed a gift to the reserve. His mother arrived and unbeknown to us was pregnant. The birth of this rhino male took us all by surprise. Isipho grew into a beautiful and proud rhino and he was slated as our future breeding bull.
These animals are sorely missed by all who had enjoyed the incredible viewing they provided along with being symbols of one of South Africa’s greatest conservation success stories.
Vision
The Chipembere Rhino Foundation’s vision is to create awareness of the threat facing Africa’s fragile population of rhino. The long term vision would be to expand the funding by Chipembere Rhino Foundation into a multi-pronged approach namely:
1.) On the ground equipment support for anti-poaching teams that operate on wildlife reserves in Southern Africa.
2.) Monitoring assistance such as the supply of telemetry tracking devices, veterinary procedures involving field ID kits that include ear notching, DNA processing for the National Rhino data base and micro chipping of horns and body.
3.) Creating a media awareness programme that would focus primarily on the youth through education based talks at schools and through the collective genre of artists associated with the Chipembere Rhino Foundation
In addition to our objectives for 2013 will be the following…….
1. Telemetry Leg collars
2. RhoDis DNA sample kits
3. Microchips
For 2013 our main goal besides the on-going supply of equipment to anti-poaching units and visible awareness campaigns is to supply and fit as many telemetry leg collars, this technology assists reserves with 24 hour monitoring of their rhino populations. They are an invaluable tool when a reserve is under threat – night time particularly, and or for the general monitoring of rhino on a daily basis.
When we fit the telemetry leg collar to a rhino the other effective item we will be providing is the RhoDis DNA sample ID kit. The DNA details and samples are taken during the fitting of the collar are then sent to Dr.Cindy Harper at Onderstepoort to be kept in the National Rhino DNA database. The collected and logged DNA of rhino is used to support the legal system by matching recovered horns to a rhino poaching crime scene.
The final component we will be supplying is the microchips that are placed in a rhino’s horns and the body. This also allows for easy identification of living or deceased rhino when managing and protecting the species.
Contact/Donate Details
Bank Details:
Name: Chipembere Rhino Foundation
Bank: FNB (First National Bank)
Branch: Humansdorp
Branch Code: 210115
Account: 62330309289
Type: Check Account
Bank Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
NPO (Non-Profit Organization) Registration number: IT/95/2011
Email: brent@hillsnek.com
Telephone: +27 (0)42 294 1685
Fax: +27 (0)42 294 1687
Mobile: +27 (0)82 77 99 575
Physical Address: HillsNek Safaris, Amakhala Game Reserve, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Postal Address: PO Box 25, St. Francis Bay, 6312, South Africa
THANK-YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, RHINO NEED YOU!
