Page 15 - Dainfern Precinct Living issue 9 2022

Nature

cross the world, there
are only five species
of rhinos remaining
out of a possible
A100 different species
that existed in pre-historic times.
They are: Sumatran rhino, Black
rhino, Greater one-horned rhino,
White rhino and the Javan rhino.
However, it’s said that South Africa
is home to over 70% of the world’s
rhino population. Sadly, between
2008 and 2017, more than 7 000
of these extraordinary animals
were lost to poaching.
According to Joe Cloete, CEO of
Shamwari Private Game Reserve
in the Eastern Cape, saving Africa’s
rhinos needs a multidimensional for education campaigns to get
strategy, with private game the buy-in of the surrounding
reserves and national parks communities, as well as dispelling
cooperating, and anti-poaching the myths that create demand for
efforts working in tandem with rhino horn.”
education campaigns. This isn’t a
new approach, he says, but it’s one This tried and tested approach
that needs to be developed and used at the Kruger National Park
expanded. is now being rolled out in other
regions. “Shamwari cooperates
“It’s what General Johan Jooste did with all the surrounding
in the Kruger National Park and reserves, including the Addo
what he details in his book Rhino Elephant National Park. We
Wars, where the national park share intelligence and expertise.
integrated its anti-poaching efforts We also do a lot of community
with those of nearby private work, both on the reserve and
reserves. He understood the need through outreach programmes.

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