The Mule Patrol Unit (MPU) in Namibia plays a critical role in protecting the endangered black rhino in the rugged and remote Kunene region. These unique, desert-adapted rhinos are the world’s last truly wild rhinos, roaming a desert without any fences and no formal protected area status. Due to the vast distances and challenging terrain, conventional vehicles and foot patrols often struggle to reach rhinos living in the most remote parts of the Kunene desert. Mules, known for their resilience, have become vital in enabling rangers to access and monitor vulnerable rhinos living out of reach of other patrols.
Why This Matters
- Monitoring Unique Rhinos: The incredible Kunene Region is home to a rare population of black rhinos specially adapted to the desert. Diligent monitoring of these animals by dedicated rangers is crucial to ensure they thrive in the future
- Effective Poaching Deterrent: Continuous patrols by rangers across this landscape ensure a constant presence, deterring criminal activity, such as rhino poaching, in the area
- Finding Remote Rhinos: Able to travel longer distances and across rugged terrain, the Mule Patrol Unit is crucial to finding rhinos that could otherwise be missed in vehicle or foot patrols, monitoring their health, behaviour and safety
MORE ABOUT THE UNIT
Your Impact
By donating to this campaign, you contribute directly to:
- Salaries for expert rangers and mule handlers
- Veterinary care, food, and shelter for the hardworking mules
- Essential equipment and infrastructure to enhance patrol safety and efficiency
Your support ensures that the black rhinos of the Kunene region can continue to thrive in their natural environment, safeguarding a precious part of Namibia’s natural heritage for future generations.
A Partnership For Conservation
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is an incredible opportunity to maximise the impact of your generosity. By participating in this initiative, every donation made during the campaign is matched by our generous pledgers and partners, doubling the funds we can raise for rhino conservation. This means your contribution goes twice as far to support the Mule Patrol Unit and support the future of Namibia’s last free-roaming black rhinos.
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is a week-long online fundraising campaign running from midday on 3 December 2024 to midday on 10 December 2024. During this period, every donation made to our campaign will be matched by our pledged funds and partners. For example, a £20 donation becomes £40, doubling the impact of your gift.
Donations made during The Big Give Christmas Challenge can be completed from anywhere in the world, however, they must be made in GBP. It is your responsibility to be aware of any international charges made by your bank. We aim to include more currencies in the future.
The Big Give payments processor is Stripe and they require donations to be made online using a debit/credit card and Apple Pay and Google Pay. The following card types are accepted: Mastercard / Visa / Maestro / Switch / Solo / Delta / American Express.
Donations made after midday on 10 December 2024 will not be matched, but they will still contribute to our overall mission to protect rhinos. Every gift, matched or not, plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and survival of these incredible animals.
The Mule Patrol Unit is a team of rangers and their mules who track and monitor black rhinos in Namibia’s Kunene region. They navigate rugged terrain where no vehicle can travel, ensuring these rhinos remain have a thriving, wild future.
The most remote and rugged parts of the Kunene desert are inaccessible by vehicle. Mules are strong, reliable, and can traverse this challenging terrain, reaching at risk areas that would otherwise be impossible for rangers to get to.
The unit tracks and monitors rhinos daily, collecting vital data about their movements and health. Their presence on the ground also deters poachers, protecting this vulnerable population from urgent threats.
Your support will fund essentials such as ranger salaries, riding equipment, food and medicine for the mules, building of accommodation and fencing and operational costs to keep the unit active and effective.
Namibia is home to the world’s largest rhino population. The rhinos living in Kunene are the last truly wild rhinos on Earth, living in a vast, unfenced area with no formal protected area status. The unique, desert-adapted population of Kunene is incredible special, and at risk. The Mule Patrol Unit plays a crucial role in monitoring and safeguarding these vulnerable black rhinos, ensuring their survival for future generations.
The unit is run by our long-term partner, Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, which works closely with local communities and other conservation organisations to monitor rhinos in Namibia.
- 50% of the funds raised through The Big Give Christmas Challenge will be sent directly to Save the Rhino Trust Namibia to support the Mule Patrol Unit. These funds will cover essentials such as ranger salaries, mule care, riding equipment and patrol operations to protect Namibia’s last free-roaming black rhinos
- 50% of the funds raised through the Big Give Christmas Challenge will be retained by Save the Rhino International to cover vital costs, including our work with all our partners throughout Africa and Asia. This ensures we can continue supporting rhino conservation initiatives globally and sustain our efforts to protect rhinos from poaching and other threats
We’ve embraced innovative technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to enhance our storytelling. One example is using AI to transform still images of rhinos and their environment into dynamic moving videos. These videos bring the incredible work of the Mule Patrol Unit to life, helping us share their story in a compelling and impactful way with supporters like you.
