Thank you for making our grants possible!

A ranger smiling. Rangers save rhinos each day.
Credit: Tristan Vince

Click on the sections below to see the grants we’ve sent so far this year (our financial year runs April 2023 – March 2024).

Further down, you’ll see all of the grants we sent between April 2022 and March 2023.

More information on how we spend money can be found in our Audited Accounts on the Charity Commission’s website and Impact reports (latest copy viewable here).

If you’d like to understand more about our funding priorities, take a look at our grant-making policy. Further guidelines on applying for a grant can be found here.

Grants so far, 2023 - 2024

Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

  • We sent grants and donations from a number of donors to support the costs of the Rhino Protection Units, which patrol the Park to look for signs of Javan rhinos (footprints, faeces, mud wallows and browse activity) and also to deter, detect and detain any illegal trespassers within the Park: £4,500 from an anonymous donor; £115 received in misc. donations via our website; $1,110.26 (including $259.58 and $247.70 from Sanctuary); and £5,000 from the Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
  • We sent another series of grants to support the costs of the RPUs in Ujung Kulon NP : £3,835 (£3,000 from the Marjorie Coote Animal Charity Trust; £750 raised by Bethany Hahn; and £85 received in misc. donations via our website); and €10,000 from Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Garden, Stuttgart

Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia

  • We sent £225 received in misc. dons, to be allocated to the Rhino Protection Unit (RPU) programme in Way Kambas NP in the southeast of Sumatra. As well as being home to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary’s captive population of rhinos, there are thought to be a handful of animals surviving in the wild in Way Kambas. The RPUs patrol the Park to look for signs of rhinos (spoor, dung, browse, wallows) and also retrieve and destroy any snares they find, and report any illegal activities, e.g. logging
  • We sent another £100 received in misc. donations via our website

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya – For Rangers

  • We allocated £6,200 from ForRangers Ultra funds to buy surveillance equipment, to assist Mogwooni’s rangers with dealing with security threats. The runners go through Mogwooni Conservancy on the last day of the Ultra

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya – 51 Degrees Ltd

  • $3,638 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs via Project UPTICK to help cover the salary of 51 Degrees’ Intelligence Assistant

Borana Conservancy, Kenya

  • We sent $2,675 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ (INL) grant for Project UPTICK to cover the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis during March 2023, and another $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRangerTM support costs during March 2023
  • We sent $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during April 2023, and $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during April 2023
  • We sent $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during May 2023, and $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during May 2023
  • $2,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during June 2023 , and another $4,408 from INL covered LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during June 2023
  • Thanks to a grant from the ForRangers Ultra funds, we were able to send £6,200 to buy surveillance equipment, to assist Borana’s National Police Reservists with dealing with security threats
  • $2,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during July 2023; another $2,675 for work during August, and $1,000 for the biannual site-visit and on-site training by 51 Degrees’ Intelligence Assistant
  • $4,408 from INL paid for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during July 2023; and the same again for August 2023
  • $4,408 from INL paid for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs, and another $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during during September 2023
  • £16,000 received from an anonymous donor via Wild Philanthropy will cover the rest of the cost (in addition to Ardea Cares’ grant) of a new Land Cruiser for the NPR team
  • INL’s grant via Project UPTICK covered the following: $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during October 2023, and the same again in November; $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during October 2023, and the same again in November

Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya

  • We sent $15,493.80 from the INL 4-year grant for Project UPTICK to pay for ongoing IT support during March 2023 for KWS sites using EarthRanger: the KWS HQ in Nairobi, nine national parks (Tsavo West, Lake Nakuru, Aberdare, Meru, Ruma, Mt Kenya, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Amboseli and Shimba Hills), and seven regional headquarters (Western, Mountain, Tsavo, Southern, Coastal, Central Rift (Lake Nakuru) and Eastern)
  • We sent another $15,493.80 from INL to pay for ongoing IT support during April 2023 as above
  • $5,148 from INL via Project UPTICK went towards the installation of EarthRanger: $3,786 for the set-up of an operations room in Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, within Tsavo West National Park; and $1,380 to buy computers for KWS Regional Headquarters in Rumuruti and Narok
  • We sent $17,153.85 from INL to pay for ongoing IT support during May 2023 for KWS sites using EarthRanger: the KWS HQ in Nairobi, nine national parks (Tsavo West, Lake Nakuru, Aberdare, Meru, Ruma, Mt Kenya, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Amboseli & Shimba Hills), and seven regional headquarters (Western, Mountain, Tsavo, Southern, Coastal, Central Rift (Lake Nakuru) & Eastern); and $4,848 for the installation costs of EarthRanger in Ruma NP ($2,173 for hardware, and $2,675 for staff time)
  • As above, we sent $17,707.20 from INL to pay for ongoing IT support during May 2023 for KWS sites using EarthRanger
  • We sent $17,707.20 from INL to pay for ongoing IT support during July 2023 for KWS sites using EarthRanger: the KWS HQ in Nairobi, nine national parks (Tsavo West, Lake Nakuru, Aberdare, Meru, Ruma, Mt Kenya, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Amboseli & Shimba Hills), and seven regional headquarters (Western, Mountain, Tsavo, Southern, Coastal, Central Rift (Lake Nakuru) & Eastern); and $18,813.90 for from INL to pay for ongoing IT support during August 2023 for KWS sites
  • We also sent $816 from INL to pay for equipment for the operations room in Shimba Hills NP
  • $18,813.90 from INL paid for ongoing IT support during September 2023 for KWS sites using EarthRanger
  • INL’s grant for Project UPTICK paid $18,813.90 for ongoing IT support for Kenya Wildlife Service sites in October 2023, and again in November; and another $2,675 enabled the finalisation of the installation of the Ops Room in Ruma NP

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

  • We sent $2,675 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ (INL) grant for Project UPTICK (Uniting Protection, Training and Intelligence in Central Kenya) to cover the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis during March 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during April 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during May 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during June 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during July 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during August 2023, together with another $1,000 for the biannual site-visit and on-site training by 51 Degrees’ Intelligence Assistant
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during September 2023
  • $2,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during October 2023, and again in November

Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya

  • USFWS Rhino and Tiger Conservation Fund awarded extra grants in 2023, in recognition of the increased costs as a result of the war in Ukraine: food and fuel prices have particularly suffered. $3,463.57 (from a total additional grant of $29,091.89) will cover the increased cost of a new Landcruiser for the general security team, since we submitted the original 5-year proposal and budget in 2021.Another $4,335.16 will pay for bush modifications for the new Landcruiser
  • Once Ol Jogi had renewed its registration in US government records, we were able to reimburse the Conservancy for costs incurred via Project UPTICK during the 6-month period October 2022-March 2023: $17,050 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis; and $26,448 for LoRa WAN and EarthRangerTM support costs during the 6-month period Oct 2022-Mar 2023 Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
  • We then resumed normal monthly reimbursements: $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis, and $4,408 from INL for for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during April 2023
  • We sent $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during May 2023 and another $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during May 2023
  • We sent €2,500 from Rotterdam Zoo to pay for Bennie van Zyl, who runs the K9 unit in North Luanga National Park in Zambia, to visit Ol Jogi to review its K9 unit: to undertake an assessment of the unit, develop new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and protocols, and provide some recommendations and training etc.. Any surplus will be used to procure new equipment for the unit
  • $2,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis, and another $4,408 paid for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support during June 2023
  • £6,200 from funds raised by the ForRangers Ultra runners paid for surveillance equipment, to assist Ol Jogi’s National Police Reservists in dealing with security threats
  • $2,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis, and another $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during July 2023
  • $2,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis, $1,000 for the biannual site-visit and on-site training by 51 Degrees’ Intelligence Assistant, and another $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during August 2023
  • $4,408 from INL paid for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs, and another $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during September 2023
  • INL’s grant via Project UPTICK paid $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRanger support costs during October 2023, and again in November; and $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during October 2023, and again in November

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

  • We sent $2,675 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ (INL) grant for Project UPTICK to cover the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis during March 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during April 2023 as above
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during May 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during June 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during July 2023
  • $2,675 from INL for intelligence gathering and analysis during August 2023; $1,000 for the biannual site-visit and on-site training; and another $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during September 2023
  • INL’s grant via Project UPTICK paid $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during October 2023, and again in November

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia

  • We paid $138.55 (N$ 2,480) from our own core funds to pay Lazaret Upholstery for new matting for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle, used during all rhino ops
  • The 5-year grant from US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund enabled a number of payments on the Ministry’s behalf: $37,389.10 to pay for 80 sealed drums of JetA-1 fuel for the helicopter and 15 sealed drums of AvGas for the fixed-wing used in annual rhino dehorning operations; $351.59 to pay Pupkewitz for vehicle service and spare parts; and $1,103.39 paid for a fuel advance for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used in annual rhino operations
  • We paid $839.25 (N$ 15,210) from USFWS to pay for accommodation for a member of NamPol tasked with the security of the rhino horns removed during annual dehorning operations
  • We sent $1,630.21 (equivalent of N$ 30,000) from USFWS to advance funds to Piet Beytell, the National Rhino Coordinator, for fuel for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used during annual rhino dehorning operations
  • We sent $24,944 awarded by our sister organization, Save the Rhino International Inc., to pay for an intelligence and informants operation in the Kunene and Erongo Regions during the period 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024
  • And we sent $833.90 from USFWS funds to pay Waltons Namibia N$14,646.59 for lab equipment used during rhino immobilizations
  • $1,901.46 from USFWS for repairs to the rhino truck before the rhino operations taking place in Etosha NP
  • $480.79 from USFWS to pay for repairs to a generator used during annual rhino operations, to power the chainsaw used to dehorn rhinos, the fridge used to store genetic samples etc.
  • $1,649.30 (N$ 30,000 equivalent) from USFWS funds to pay for a fuel advance for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used in annual rhino operations
  • $5,301.64 from USFWS to pay Etzold Auto Repairs for repairs / spare parts / labour etc. for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used during annual rhino operations
  • $1,833.25 from USFWS to pay the Namibia Carnivore Research Trust for consultants’ daily fees, travel and subsistence while working on the Ministry’s Prediction Model, which aims to highlight potential poaching-risk areas
  • $1,601.38 from USFWS funds was sent to Piet Beytell as an advance for fuel for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle during annual rhino operations scheduled for October and November 2023
  • $28,397.49 from USFWS paid Namibia Helicopter Services for chopper fuel used during September-October 2023 operations
  • Thanks to Year 2 of the 5-year grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, we were able to make multiple payments on behalf of MEFT for law-enforcement-related activities: $1,632.01 to National Rhino Coordinator Piet Beytell for fuel for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle during annual rhino operations in November 2023; $10,652.97 to pay MES Investments the balance of the cost of constructing the rhino cow and calf release camp within Etosha NP; another $2,194.97 for fuel for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used during annual rhino dehorning operations; $290.44 to pay Radio Electronics for a MotoTrbo (radio) single charger for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle; $569.21 to pay Etzold Auto Repairs for labour and spare parts for a service of the Rhino Recovery Vehicle; $9,024.67 to pay Commercial Vehicles WHK for services of the trucks used in annual rhino operations; $1,900.44 to pay Autohaus T/A Truck & Bus for services of the trucks used in annual rhino operations; $7,795.52 from USFWS to pay Namibia Helicopter Services for chopper hours during annual rhino operations; $7,000 to pay DMP Statistical Solutions for work on the modelling software to predict poaching hotspots; $1,430.89 to pay Cymot for a chainsaw, blades, and fridge in which to store genetic samples collected during annual rhino ops; $4,748.24 to pay Puma Energy for 10 x 200-litre drums of Avgas; $11,388.86 to pay Skycore Aviation for labour and spare parts (propeller, radar altimeter) for the Ministry’s fixed-wing aircraft used during annual rhino ops; $1,078.98 to pay Jowes Oceanzia for a new seat cover for the MEFT helicopter used during annual rhino ops; $28,600.01 to pay Namibia Helicopter Services for chopper hours for annual rhino dehorning operations; and $8,580 from to pay Intricode Solutions for tracking devices to predict poaching hotspots

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

  • We sent funding from a number of donors to cover a range of law-enforcement-related equipment: €3,750 from SafariPark Beekse Bergen; €3,000 from Zoo Boissière de la du Doré; €15,400 (from the total grant of €15,900) from Zoo Zlin; and €2,000 from Parco Natura Viva & Fondazione A.R.C.A. These funds will be spent on camera traps and setup, including the associated infrastructure; on generator repairs and new portable generators, together with general electrical repairs and maintenance; on fence materials, including energisers, poles, polywire electrics and tools; and ration packs for field rangers on camping deployments
  • At the same time, we sent over funds received in sterling: £1,000 from the Betty Lawes Foundation; £400 from Chessington World of Adventure; £12,420.22 raised by our Save KZN Rhinos Appeal; and £1,000 from Richard Hollington. As with the euro grant, the funds will be spent on law-enforcement-related equipment; the remainder will be used to cover emergency needs
  • We sent the remaining €500 euros from the total grant of 15,900 euros received in February 2023 from Zoo Zlin, to be used as needed for anti-poaching work, rhino-monitoring or ranger welfare. To this we added €4,000 from Parc de Lunaret – Zoo de Montpellier, and €15,000 from Réserve Africaine de Sigean
  • An additional grant of $29,837 from USFWS, in addition to its previous grant for work in the Park during 2023, was sent to buy tyres for the vehicles operating within the Park, as EKZNW’s budgets have been further strained by the rising prices of fuel and supplies generally
  • We sent $32,000 (from the $50,000 total grant) from Ardea Cares, to improve responses to poaching incidents. c. $29,611 will be used to renovate and upgrade twin safari tents for SAPS officers based at the TACJOC. The remaining $2,389 is for Wildlife ACT’s administration costs in managing the implementation of this project. Having a fully operational Tactical Joint Operations Command (TACJOC, staffed by SAPS) adjacent to Nerve Centre (staffed by EKZNW), in HiP will facilitate the effective integration of responses to wildlife-crime incidents specifically in HiP and for 10 other rhino reserves in KZN
  • We sent $6,637.66 from Ardea Cares’ grant, and another $1,467.01 from core funds, to improve the accommodation provided for SAPS members at the TACJOC in HiP, specifically to pay CJ D’Offay Plumbing: to remove, supply & install existing collapsed tank with new reinforced calcamite tank; connect to overflow from black & grey water pipes; brick up and install 2x manhole covers; connect overflow of new tank to new emergency soak-away; and install existing submersible pump. All manholes will be exposed high enough, so no storm water can enter chambers. As an extra measure a bund wall will be built to further ensure no water enters the manholes. Another $5,596.32 from Ardea Cares paid Parkhomes Modular Units for air-conditioning / heating units x 6, plus the electrical wiring needed, for the TACJOC
  • $2,176.12 from Ardea Cares was used to pay Pietermaritzburg Electrical for solar lights and electricals for the helipads; and $2,287.11 from Ardea Cares paid NiteCore SA for 100 x helicopter landing beacons, to facilitate night-time deployments in response to reported incursions
  • $1,302.79 from Ardea Cares paid Onsite Computers for a laptop and associated software for a data analyst to monitor and evaluate responses to incidents within the Park
  • We sent £8,180.69 raised by Bradley Schroder, supported by Greg Canning, via the “Running Rhinos” challenge, that saw him running seven marathons in seven continents in rhino costume. Part of the funds ($6,725) will be used to cover aerial surveillance costs during 2024; the rest will be used for general purposes as needed in the Park, together with other donations as follows: £500 from Ansie Earle; £750 from Andrew Mackay; and £1,071.50 received in misc. donations via our website

uMkhuze Game Reserve, South Africa

  • We forwarded €10,188 from Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen, to pay for law-enforcement remote monitoring systems: R51,000 for FLIR Latitude 9.2 VMS remote camera monitoring software to update 2 x FLIR remote live stream cameras; R70,000 for 200 x 6V lead acid batteries for camera traps; R14,000 for 200 x rechargeable batteries; R4,050 for 3 x smart battery chargers; and R62,700 for management hardware required for the continued upkeep and maintenance of the Smart Park Network, including a WiFi router, touch screen and server cabinet. With restrictions on recruiting and training more rangers, uMkhuze makes excellent use of technology as a ‘force multiplier’ to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its ranger force, but the technology needs regular maintenance and updating
  • We sent $8,476.50 (from the total additional grant from USFWS of $14,143) to pay for five extra sets of tyres for the Reserve’s vehicles
  • €1,840.05 from core funds was awarded to cover the salary of Jannie Lombard, Logistical Support Officer for uMkhuze Game Reserve, until another funder’s grant begins in October 2023. A critical component of uMkhuze’s effort to develop and maintain its objective as becoming one of the leading Smart Park implementers, is the need for technical capacity to support management in this development, and Jannie has proved invaluable assistance

North Luangwa Conservation Programme, Zambia

  • We forwarded $374,575 from Wildcat Foundation’s Y1 grant towards law-enforcement activities in North Luangwa National Park: salaries for Village Game Scouts and the Strategic Law-Enforcement Technical Advisor; training; incentives for excellent performance; vehicle fuel maintenance; and aerial surveillance (Cessna fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter)
  • We sent $300,000 from the Wildcat Foundation to help cover the cost of law-enforcement activities in North Luangwa National Park as above
  • We sent $100,000 from Wildcat Foundation towards law-enforcement activities in North Luangwa National Park as above

Lowveld Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe

  • We arranged for the delivery of $5,000 from the Anna Merz Rhino Trust, and £8,000 (£7,857.73 from the International Rhino Foundation, and £142.27 from misc. restricted donations via our website) for the Lowveld Rhino Law-Enforcement Task Force (LRLETF), which operates to integrate intelligence to prevent rhino poaching and improve prosecutions when poaching events have occurred. It is independently managed at an interface with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, while being supported financially and logistically by a consortium of support agencies

Follow-the-money investigation, Africa

  • We paid £1,326.25 from core funds (£1,579.50 inc VAT) to pay for the design of a case review for Project Blood Orange, to be circulated to stakeholders and to those who registered for the webinars held in March 2023, to share the key lessons learned to-date from the follow-the-money investigation
  • We paid a total of $134,429.19, thanks to a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, to pay KPMG for its work on Project Blood Orange, the follow-the-money investigation into a South African rhino horn poaching and trafficking syndicate
  • $1,242.05 from an anonymous donor paid the invoice from Accountancy Management Services Ltd for the Project audit for the IWTCF grant
  • We sent a series of grants to pay KPMG for its work during July-September 2023 on Project Blood Orange 1.0: the final $16,660.88 remaining from the anonymous donor’s grant of $150,000; $75,000 received from Ardea Cares; and $75,000 from the Woodtiger Fund’s total grant of $150,000

Indian Rhino Vision 2.0, India

  • €2,500 from Rotterdam Zoo for Greater one-horned rhino conservation efforts was allocated to habitat restoration in Manas NP in Assam
  • €5,000 from Parc animalier et botanique de Branféré, and $12,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation, was sent to help cover the remaining unfunded needs of habitat maintenance work in Manas NP; any remaining funds will be allocated to the Wildlife Crime Training Courses

Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

  • We sent £261 received in misc. donations via our website, together with $2,538.37 from Sanctuary, to be allocated to Arenga palm removal. This invasive plant chokes out the indigenous plants found in Ujung Kulon NP that are eaten by the Critically Endangered Javan rhino; by increasing the amount of browse available, conservationists are effectively increasing the carrying capacity of the Park

Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, Indonesia

  • We sent grants from a number of sources to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, located in Way Kambas NP in southern Sumatra, Indonesia, which is home to a captive breeding population of Sumatran rhinos. This comprised: £2,322.32 from West Midland Safari Park; £987.12 received in misc. donations via our website; €8,000 euros from Odense Zoo; €2,422.50 from Zoo Hodinin; and €260 from Tallinn Zoo – Fondation Lutreola
  • €12,805 from Tallinn Zoo – Fondation Lutreola was sent to help cover Sanctuary running costs
  • We sent £416 received in misc. donations via our website, and £3,500 from West Midland Safari Park, to help cover Sanctuary running costs
  • We sent €52,800 from Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Garden, Stuttgart, and another €3,000 from Dublin Zoo, to help cover the running costs of the Sanctuary, where two Sumatran rhino calves were born in late 2023: female calf named Anggi born in September, and a male calf named Indra, born in November

Borana Conservancy, Kenya

  • $30,500 (from the total grant of $75,000) received from Ardea Cares was sent to help cover Borana’s continual rhino-monitoring programme: $27,000 for an Electric Polaris for rhino monitoring scouts; and $3,500 for 10 x pairs of binoculars for the monitors
  • A further grant from USFWS for Y2 of its 5-year grant was allocated as follows: $2,250 from USFWS for the predator-proof fence bordering Ngare Ndare to mitigate Human-Wildlife-Conflict. Since we submitted our original proposal to USFWS in 2021, the price has now increased to $13.75/metre (including materials and labour), x 3,000 meters. $4,500 from USFWS for the repair of Gaitano dam. Fuel prices have increased from Kes 110/liter in Jan 2022 to Kes 165/liter in Jan 2023, i.e. a 50% increase in fuel costs. Fuel is generally 30% of the cost of repairing dams, which takes the original quote of $15,000 per dam to $19,500, including hire of bulldozer, diesel, delivery of bulldozer to site and back, and driver’s subsistence allowance. Another $20,000 will pay for the creation of an additional borehole, since the rains have been enough for grass cover but not to replenish dams. These funds will cover the drilling, and Borana will seek matching funds for the pumps and troughs
  • A grant of $19,200 from our sister organisation, SRI Inc., will pay for the construction of 5,300m of pipeline and four additional waterpoints in several locations across Borana. This will expand the habitat available for wildlife across the Conservancy, and improve resilience in times of drought
  • Will Taylor very kindly donated £8,000, as a birthday present for a friend. In response, Borana invited the friend to name a 3-year-old black rhino calf, born to rhino Lou: the calf is now named Stevie. The funds will help cover Borana’s ongoing rhino-monitoring costs, as will another £34 received in misc. donations via our website

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

  • An additional grant of $35,787.55 from USFWS’s Rhino and Tiger Conservation Fund will help cover the biological management and monitoring of its black and white rhino populations during 2023. $2,354.55 to cover the increased cost of training rhino monitors. The rise in the daily rate is due to the boarding facility designated for the training, and the increased cost of fuel for transferring the 33 rangers from their respective outposts to the training venue, since we submitted the original 5-year proposal and budget in 2021. $2,000 to cover the increased cost of buying SMART camera traps , since we submitted the original 5-year proposal and budget in 2021. This was necessitated due to a change of price from the supplier side and an increase in the shipping/clearing cost of electronic devices occasioned by an increase in taxation. $14,528 to cover the increased cost of rhino operations (ear-notching and collaring rhinos), since we submitted the original 5-year proposal and budget. This is due: to the increase in costs of helicopter, fixed-wing and vehicle fuel; higher KWS personnel costs following per diem adjustments to cater for inflation; and finally the prolonged drought has led to more rhinos moving into forest areas and as far as the Ethi area, resulting in more flying hours while the pilots search for candidate animals. And $16,905 to cover the increased cost of creating the elephant inclusion zones. Fencing has increased from $7.42/meter to $12.25/meter due to the increased cost of labour and materials

Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya

  • $330 from the National Geographic Society’s grant reimbursed Jamie Gaymer for the venue costs of a meeting with personnel from the Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Kenya to discuss the black rhino eye project and findings to date. Another $1,607.98 paid for the costs (personnel and transport) of the PIC-MAT workshop held in January 2023, which involved participants from Kenya’s Wildlife & Research Institute
  • A total of €5,260 from Erlebnis Zoo Hannover was sent to Ol Jogi to help pay for LoRa WAN sensors. All of Ol Jogi Conservancy’s fences will have LoRa voltage sensors, which will enable management to track all the livestock within geofenced grazing areas to better improve the rotation and improve pasture quality, as well as to track vehicles and/or rangers for more efficient fleet management / patrolling. In the future, Ol Jogi hopes to get more of the vehicle / ranger trackers as well as LoRa rain gauges; there are also opportunities lie with the LoRa bracelet for rhinos that is being tested and/or LoRa horn sensors
  • We sent £2,105.68 from donations restricted for the APLRS Emergency Fund, to reimburse Ol Jogi for 50% of the veterinary costs incurred in treating black rhinos during the period April 2022-March 2023. Four animals required interventions: Bobby was injured in a fight with a black rhino and recovered after anaesthesia and treatment; Lari was injured in a fight with another black rhino and, despite three interventions and being transferred to the bomas, died of sepsis; Ahti required anaesthesia and treatment after a fight with a black rhino; and, lastly, “Namunyak’s calf” was found in an immobile state, alone, significantly dehydrated and with injuries sustained from a predator. The calf was moved to the bomas and will now be hand-reared until it is old enough to be released into the wild

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

  • We sent £1,979.78 from donations restricted for the APLRS Emergency Fund, to reimburse Ol Pejeta for 50% of the veterinary costs incurred in treating black rhinos during the period April 2022-March 2023. Six animals required interventions. Schola, a young rhino cow, was treated after sustaining injuries in a fight with a male; however her prognosis was poor and she died of her wounds. Nargis and her calf were immobilized; tests on the calf’s eyes revealed that she was partially blind and unable to fend for herself. Mother and calf have been moved to a predator-free enclosure within OPC. Uhuru, a male, suffered a deep laceration during a fight with another bull; he made a full recovery. Kai’s calf was severely wounded by hyenas and was found alone; it received emergency treatment before being moved to the animal orphanage in Nairobi. And rhino cow Jo was found unable to stand. Supportive therapy was given (fluids, vitamins and antibiotics) but she died anyway. The post-mortem revealed a torsion in the colon

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia

  • We sent £876.03 (N$19,574) from the Ania Wanda Wasilewski legacy to pay Cymot for a generator and battery for Mangetti NP to pump water for the Park’s rhinos
  • We sent $13,266.96 from USFWS to pay for 31 x LoRa rhino horn implants to aid rhino tracking in Namibian national parks
  • $2,806.12 from USFWS paid for board and accommodation for 12 people carrying out the 2023 block count (a method of surveying an area to determine how many rhinos, or other species) in Etosha National Park. Block counts are effective and efficient ways of doing surveys of very large areas and populations, where monitoring at individual level is not possible
  • $103,983.29 from USFWS paid Namibia Helicopter Services for chopper time and fuel while carrying out the block count in Etosha NP during August. The MEFT does a block count every 2 years in order to obtain accurate estimates of the Park’s black and white rhino populations, which then inform management decisions, e.g. whether to translocate animals in or out of particular areas
  • $907.20 from USFWS funds paid wildlife veterinarian Rob Jackson for assistance during annual rhino operations
  • $395.42 from USFWS was used to reimburse veterinarian Dr Axel Hartmann for fuel and subsistence incurred during recent rhino operations in Etosha NP
  • $3,103.38 from USFWS paid Africa Wide Veterinary Solutions for seven days of vet fees, flights from Hoedspruit, accommodation while in Namibia, and darts used to anaesthetise rhinos during annual dehorning operations
  • $5,896.91 from USFWS was sent to pay for construction materials (roof, doors, posts and labour) for a black rhino cow-and-calf release camp in Etosha NP. When rhinos are translocated, they can scatter out of the intended area while they adjust to new surroundings, and it’s important, particularly for cow and calf combinations, that they have a chance to settle first in a safe environment
  • Thanks to Year 2 of the 5-year grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, we were able to make multiple payments on behalf of MEFT for rhino-monitoring and -management activities: $590.35 to pay for laboratory supplies for rhino samples (pipettes, sample tubes, cryoboxes etc.); $1,000.92 to pay Pupkewitz Nissan for repairs and spare parts for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used for rhino operations in the field; $3,866 to pay TyrePro for five new tyres for the truck used to translocate rhinos between sites; $6,239.10 to pay veterinarian Dr Markus Hofmeyr for assistance during dehorning operations in the Kunene Region, together with international flights from South Africa and car hire in Namibia; $220.69 to pay Marey Upholstery for repairs to the canvas seats and awning in the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used during rhino operations; $3,688.17 to pay IGL Afrox for oxygen used during rhino immobilisations; $1,980.32 to pay Swavet for drugs (Thianil / Trexonil) used during rhino immobilisations; $2,661.34 to pay Pupkewitz Megabuild for misc. equipment and supplies used during annual dehorning operations; $23,053.74 to pay Africa Wildlife Tracking for a range of iridium satellite collars, horn implants and service fees, to aid the monitoring of rhinos, particularly in poaching hotspots and/or post-translocation; $3,811.05 to pay Swavet for microchips to be implanted into rhinos during annual operations   ; and $185.55 from USFWS to pay Ferdinand Tjombe Consultancy for assistance in obtaining a business visa for veterinarian Dr Markus Hofmeyr

Save the Rhino Trust, Namibia

  • $15,200 (from a total additional grant of $30,000 for 2023 from USFWS) was sent to cover the increased cost of fuel since we submitted the original 5-year proposal and budget in 2021. SRT has 13 vehicles that are used by staff to deploy into the field, for staff welfare trips for food shopping and hospital visits, and for general administration purposes in Swakopmund
  • We sent a series of grants to Save the Rhino Trust to pay for increased water provision for the Kunene Region’s black rhinos: US $5,000 from the Reid Burns Foundation; £2,500 from the Betty Lawes Foundation; £1,000 from Paddy Walker / the J Leon Group; £913.04 received in miscellaneous donations; and €1,200 from Zoo Krefeld. SRT had originally considered digging a new borehole, but in the event, the Ministry advised that it did not want to go ahead with artificial boreholes, but rather to dig out natural springs that had become clogged up, to allow the water to flow again. For example, one area used to have several rhinos moving through it but, since its main spring dried up, they have moved out. The water is very close to the surface, so SRT will need to use a jack-hammer (which it already possesses), some cement, and lots of manpower; eventually it will install a solar-powered pump
  • We sent £3,087.76 (including funds raised by Berry White via the Solstice party, and £435.76 raised by Kenneth Donaldson via the Desert Ultra) for SRT; to be used for security operations in the festive season December 2023 / January 2024

uMkhuze Game Reserve, South Africa

  • We sent £5,650 from West Midland SP and another £412.50 received in misc. donations, to help cover rhino monitor Joshua Rogers’ salary during 2024

North Luangwa Conservation Programme, Zambia

  • We sent a series of grants to help cover black rhino monitoring costs (salaries, rations, uniforms, transport costs etc.) in North Luangwa National Park: £25,000 from The Estate of Betty and Nancy Liebert; £6,235.65 raised by the dinner held in February 2022 in Cambridge; and £4,460.81 received in misc. donations via our website, and raised by the London Marathon 2022 and 2023 teams

Lowveld Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe

  • We were pleased to award $12,000, thanks to a grant from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation, to be used to help cover general rhino monitoring costs in Bubye Valley Conservancy: salaries, rations, and vehicle fuel and maintenance etc.
  • €7,000 from Dublin Zoo was awarded, split as follows: €3,000 towards the salary of the Rhino Operations Coordinator (Lovemore Mungwashu) and €4,000 towards LRT’s general office running costs (legal advice, accounting, and administration)
  • £480 from core funds was used to pay Beth Lambert for work during January-September 2023 on updating LRT’s extensive database on rhino sightings in Bubye Valley Conservancy

Education for Nature-Vietnam, Viet Nam

  • We sent €8,000 from Zoo de la Barben; to be allocated to Education for Nature-Vietnam’s Wildlife Crime Hotline through a series of short, catchy, humorous, and clear Public Service Announcements. The Hotline receives an average 10 reports/ day of wildlife crimes involving different species

African Rhino Specialist GroupPachyderm

  • We sent £5,611.93 from The Pachyderm Journal Fund established by the estate of Esmond Bradley Martin and managed by the Royal Geographical Society as sole Trustee towards the cost of producing issue 64 of Pachyderm is an international, peer-reviewed journal that deals primarily with matters related to African elephant and African and Asian rhino conservation and management in the wild. It is also a platform for dissemination of information concerning the activities of the African Elephant, the African Rhino, and the Asian Rhino Specialist Groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC). Pachyderm provides immediate open access to its content, on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge
  • A further $1,982 from Save the Elephants, and $1,504.35 from Oak Philanthropy UK Ltd paid the balance of an invoice for the cost of producing issue 64 of Pachyderm
  • $2,070 from Oak Philanthropy UK Ltd was used to pay for editing costs for an article for issue 64 of Pachyderm that required a lot of input
  • We sent the remaining $4,225.65 from Oak Philanthropy (UK) Ltd’s grant to pay towards the costs of producing issue 64

Canine units, Africa

  • We sent $7,799.02 (from the total grant of $65,000 awarded by our sister organisation, SRI Inc., to pay the deposit to secure the South African Wildlife College as the venue for the fourth canine workshop, to be held in September 2023. The workshop will involve participants from a wide range of rhino programs across southern and eastern Africa and expert speakers from all over the world, and will include practical training, detection, and tracking sessions, veterinary care, welfare, husbandry, conditioning and fitness and law-enforcement
  • We sent $665 from Save the Rhino International Inc.’s grant to pay Natasha van Zyl for her administrative and logistics support during June for the fourth canine workshop
  • $1,085 from SRI Inc.’s grant paid Natasha van Zyl for her administrative and logistics support during July for the fourth canine workshop; and another $1,225 her work during August
  • $21,672.83) from SRI Inc. for flights for 22 participants in the K9 workshop held at the South African Wildlife College in South Africa in September 2023; and then another $3,169.93 to pay for the flights for attendees of the K9 workshop who received travel bursaries
  • $204.09 from the SRI Inc. grant to reimburse Save the Rhino’s Operations Manager, who is leading this workshop, for her travel to Heathrow to attend the K9 workshop
  • $686.39 from the SRI Inc. grant to pay for hotels needed by K9 workshop attendees on their way to/from the South African Wildlife College
  • And Save the Rhino donated £17.16 worth of wristbands for participants in the K9 workshop, and £174.21 worth of Tshirts, as thank you presents for the speakers and as prizes for the raffle
  • $2,827.02 from SRI Inc.’s grant was used to pay Natasha van Zyl for her administrative and logistics support during September, as well as to reimburse her for stationery items and travel costs. Another $5,843.50 paid the balance charged by the South African Wildlife College, which acted as the venue for the fourth canine workshop. And £64.14 from the SRI Inc. grant reimbursed SRI staff member Yasmin Morowa for cellphone data and anti-malarial medication while she was delivering the K9 workshop in September

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya – 51 Degrees

  • We sent $1,455 from INL via Project UPTICK for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up reports on training courses delivered for rangers in Laikipia-Meru conservancies. These reports are tracked via EarthRangerTM, and show progress at unit and individual ranger levels, and help inform Conservancy Managers and HR departments of any issues that need addressing, or of individuals that merit promotion
  • $970 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up reports on training courses delivered for rangers in Laikipia-Meru conservancies
  • We sent $970 from INL via Project UPTICK for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up reports on training courses delivered for rangers in Laikipia-Meru conservancies
  • $485 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up reports on training courses delivered for rangers in Laikipia-Meru conservancies
  • $970 from INL via Project UPTICK for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up reports on training courses delivered for rangers in Laikipia-Meru conservancies
  • $970 from INL via Project UPTICK for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up reports during September on training courses delivered for rangers in Laikipia-Meru conservancies
  • $485 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up reports in October 2023 on training courses delivered for rangers in Laikipia-Meru conservancies, and the same again in November

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya – ForRangers

  • £16,387.59 from funds raised by the ForRangers Ultra 2022 runners, to pay for 100 x Camelbaks, bladders and chestrigs, and 32 pairs of binoculars, for rangers based at Sosian Ranch, Suyian Ranch, Ol Maisor, Mugie Conservancy, Lolldaiga and Ole Naishu Conservancy
  • We sent £9,500 (ZAR 1,106,910) to the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa, from ForRangers res funds, to pay for life insurance for 2,456 rangers at field programmes in East and Southern Africa, from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. The rangers work at sites in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe
  • We also sent a total of 62,705.73 to renew life insurance for rangers working at multiple conservancies in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Nigeria: £42,401.37 of this came from funds raised by the ForRangers Ultra; the other £20,304.36 came from funds raised for the ForRangers initiative generally
  • $40,000 from funds from an anonymous donor for ForRangers’ initiatives was allocated towards the cost of a 2-year ranger training programme across Lolldaiga, Ole Naishu, Mugie, Sosian and Suyian conservancies. It is hoped that, eventually, some of these will become rhino guardians, to expand the rhino range across the Laikipia landscape

Borana Conservancy, Kenya

  • $34,285 (from the total grant of $75,000) from Ardea Cares went to pay for uniforms: for NPR armed rangers @ $10,112; and Rhino Monitors @ $24,173
  • $1,260 from INL paid for 4 of Borana’s rangers to undergo a 6-day Patrol Medic training course, when they are taught how to deal with wounds / injuries to themselves and/or their colleagues while on duty
  • We awarded £15,925 raised via the ForRangers Ultra 2022 to pay for new accommodation for its three Senior Commanders. Currently, one Commander oversees all general security on the Conservancy, which includes all rhino monitors and the fence-line teams. Borana also has a Commander in charge of the NPRs and his deputy second-in-command. The team would like to improve the accommodation for these individuals and build three new private rooms for them. Once these have been built the two lead rhino monitors, Wilson and Kiloku, will move into the current Commanders’ accommodation. These individuals work incredibly hard day and night, and the Conservancy would like to recognise this by providing them with improved accommodation
  • $1,680 from INL paid for four of Borana’s rangers to undergo a second 6-day Patrol Medic training course, when they are taught how to deal with wounds / injuries to themselves and/or their colleagues while on duty
  • $11,443 from INL paid for Borana’s general security rangers to undergo training with 51 Degrees Ltd. These courses are an excellent way for Borana’s management to identify rangers, who may currently be working on gateposts or fenceline maintenance, but are capable of more advanced law-enforcement roles
  • $21,000 from INL paid for Borana’s rangers to undergo the Rhino tactical refresher course; and another $1,747.20 was sent to reimburse Borana for the VAT charged on last month’s general security training course$1,750 from INL paid for some of Borana’s NPRs to undergo shared-asset training
  • $3,500 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for five of Borana’s to undergo a 5-day shared-asset training course

Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya

  • We paid $1,160 for Management refresher training for Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) staff in the use of EarthRangerTM at one of the National Parks supported via Project UPTICK
  • $7,540 from INL paid for user refresher training in the use of EarthRanger at one of the National Parks supported via Project UPTICK, and for user and management basic training in Ruma NP. Another $730 covered subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ trainers when delivering the courses for KWS staff in Ruma NP
  • $1,160 from INL paid for a Management basic training course in the use of EarthRanger at KWS HQ. $3,480 paid for a User refresher training course in the use of EarthRanger at one of the national parks involved in Project UPTICK, and another $2,320 from INL paid for Management refresher training in the use of EarthRanger at one of the national parks; and finally $927 from INL covered subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ trainer when delivering the courses for KWS staff
  • $3,480 from INL paid for a User refresher training course, and $2,320 for a Management refresher course in the use of EarthRanger in Aberdare and Tsavo West NPs
  • $1,740 from INL paid for a User basic training course, and another $1,160 for a Management basic training course, in the use of EarthRanger at Shimba Hills NP
  • $2,970 from INL via Project UPTICK covered subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ trainers when delivering the above courses for KWS staff
  • $1,740 from INL to pay for a User refresher training course in the use of EarthRanger at Tsavo West NP; and another $6,534 pay for a User refresher training course, in the use of EarthRanger at Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Mt Kenya NP and Ruma NP
  • $9,860 from INL to pay for EarthRanger training courses at KWS sites: User Basic in Narok, User Refresher in Nairobi NP, Meru NP and Shimba Hills NP, and Management Refresher in Amboseli NP; another $2,307 from INL via Project UPTICK to cover subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ trainers while delivering the courses for KWS staff
  • $2,948.28 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for training in EarthRanger for KWS staff: $2,320 for User refresher training at KWS HQ, and another $628.28 for 51 Degrees’ S&T costs while on site

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

  • We sent $21,000 from INL’s 4-year grant to pay for 30 of Lewa’s rangers to undergo the Rhino Tactical Refresher course
  • $1,260 from INL paid for 4 of Lewa’s rangers to undergo a 6-day Patrol Medic training course, when they are taught how to deal with wounds / injuries to themselves and/or their colleagues while on duty
  • $1,680 from INL paid for 4 of Lewa’s rangers to undergo a second 6-day Patrol Medic training course, when they are taught how to deal with wounds / injuries to themselves and/or their colleagues while on duty
  • $11,443 from INL paid for Lewa’s general security rangers to undergo training with 51 Degrees Ltd. These courses are an excellent way for Lewa’s management to identify rangers, who may currently be working on gateposts or fenceline maintenance, but are capable of more advanced law-enforcement roles
  • $21,000 from INL paid for Lewa’s rangers to undergo the Rhino tactical refresher course; plus $1,747.20 reimbursement for the VAT charged on last month’s general security training course; and $1,750 for shared-asset training
  • $3,500 from INL paid for five of Lewa’s rangers to undergo a 10-day commanders’ training course

Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya

  • $2,878.80 (from total additional grant of $29,091.89 from USFWS) went to cover the increased cost of rations for Ol Jogi’s rangers. Due to the rising costs of rations, Ol Jogi had scrutinized the prices of foodstuffs from various suppliers to try to obtain the best prices and identified two suppliers. Ol Jogi has negotiated a contract with one supplier for a single payment with monthly deliveries for perishable goods and the opportunity to review the price fluctuations every quarter. If Ol Jogi had had to stick to the original budget, that would have significantly reduced the quantities of foodstuffs ordered compared to 2022 provision; this would have a direct negative consequence for its rangers. Thanks to these additional funds from USFWS, Ol Jogi can order the same quantities as it did in 2022, the additional cost @ 2023 prices is $239.90/month. Another $17,768.77 will supply rations for the new rangers’ canteen, built with support from the ForRangers’ initiative. This had been requested by Ol Jogi’s ranger team for a number of years but the funding was not available at the time. All the other rhino conservancies in Laikipia-Meru have canteens, which are greatly appreciated by the rangers. The facility allows them to receive meals and focus on their work, rather than having to cook for themselves every day, greatly improving morale and ultimately helping to conserve biodiversity better. And $645.60 will cover the increased cost of building three new ranger stations, since we submitted the original 5-year proposal and budget
  • $1,260 from INL paid for 4 of Ol Jogi’s rangers to undergo a 6-day Patrol Medic training course, when they are taught how to deal with wounds / injuries to themselves and/or their colleagues while on duty. And another $21,000 from INL paid for 30 of Ol Jogi’s rangers to undergo the 10-day Rhino Tactical Refresher course, when key skills are taught and each ranger’s aptitude and progress since the previous course are assessed
  • $1,680 from INL for 4 of Ol Jogi’s rangers to undergo a second 6-day Patrol Medic training course, when they are taught how to deal with wounds / injuries to themselves and/or their colleagues while on duty
  • $11,443 from INL for Ol Jogi’s general security rangers to undergo training with 51 Degrees Ltd. These courses are an excellent way for Ol Jogi’s management to identify rangers, who may currently be working on gateposts or fenceline maintenance, but who are capable of more advanced law-enforcement roles
  • $1,750 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for shared-asset training, plus $1,747.20 reimbursement for the VAT charged on last month’s general security training course
  • $23,100 from INL paid for 30 of Ol Jogi’s rangers to undergo the annual rhino tactical refresher course
  • £750 from Andrew Mackay, together with another £240 received in misc. donations via our website, was allocated to buy a large screen TV for the new canteen, which can be used to show training (and other) films, to build staff morale
  • $3,500 from INL paid for five of Ol Jogi’s rangers to undergo a 10-day commanders’ training course

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

  • $1,260 from INL paid for 4 of Ol Pejeta’s rangers to undergo a 6-day Patrol Medic training course, when they are taught how to deal with wounds / injuries to themselves and/or their colleagues while on duty
  • $1,680 from INL paid for 4 of Ol Pejeta’s rangers to undergo a second 6-day Patrol Medic training course, when they are taught how to deal with wounds / injuries to themselves and/or their colleagues while on duty
  • $21,000 from INL paid for 30 of Ol Pejeta’s rangers to undergo the 10-day Rhino Tactical Refresher course, when key skills are taught and each ranger’s aptitude and progress since the previous course are assessed
  • $10,920 from INL paid for OPC’s general security rangers to undergo training with 51 Degrees Ltd. These courses are an excellent way for OPC’s management to identify rangers, who may currently be working on gateposts or fenceline maintenance, but who are capable of more advanced law-enforcement roles
  • $1,747.20 from INL was sent to reimburse Ol Pejeta for the VAT charged on last month’s general security training course, while another $1,750 from INL paid for some of OPC’s NPRs to undergo shared-asset training
  • $3,500 from INL paid for five of Ol Pejeta’s rangers to undergo a 10-day commanders’ training course

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia

  • We spent £883.37 from the Ania Wanda Wasilewski legacy, to pay MultiChoice Namibia for two annual TV packages for the K9 unit. The unit is based in a remote part of Namibia, and it’s important to maintain the morale of the K9 unit handlers
  • We sent another £4,474.31 from the Ania Wanda Wasilewski legacy, to pay the Universidad de Andalucia for tuition fees for Masters student Ms C. Louw, who works in Namibia’s CITES office, and whose research is on the genetics of the private Custodian properties’ rhino population. This will assist in management of the population in terms of parentage

Save the Rhino Trust, Namibia

  • £6,150 (£5,600 donated by the Tim Holmes’ trekking group and £550 raised via the Justgiving page) will be used to pay for Maigoha and Axab (mule camp) upgrades to improve ranger welfare
  • $14,800 (from the total additional grant of $30,000 from USFWS) was sent to cover the increased cost of rations, since we submitted the original 5-year proposal and budget in 2021. SRT provides rations for its own staff patrols (10 per month) & Rhino Rangers’ patrols (14 per month) = 24 patrols / month. A partner organisation did not confirmed its contribution to field rations for Rhino Rangers during calendar year 2023, which had left a gap in SRT’s field rations budget
  • We sent another £640 raised by Tim Holmes’ trekking group to help pay for Maigoha and Axab (mule camp) upgrades to improve ranger welfare
  • £2,000 from the Betty Lawes Foundation, at the request of David Neville, was sent to pay for gas stoves, pots, pans and cutlery for the new communal kitchen and dining area for SRT’s trackers and the members of NamPol that go out on patrol with them to cook and eat in. Any surplus was to be allocated to the Security Operations planned for Dec-23 / Jan-24

uMkhuze Game Reserve, South Africa

  • Thanks to an additional grant from USFWS for Y2 (calendar year 2023) of its 5-year grant, we were able to send $2,200 to pay for the increased costs of refurbishing four camps (Nsumo, Mkhumbe and Mahlabeni picket camps, and Corporal South’s accommodation), together with another $3,466.50 to pay for the additional costs involved in the maintenance and refurbishment of the Conservation Manager’s kitchen

Rhino Resource Center, UK

  • We sent our annual grant of £1,300 from core funds towards the cost of the RRC’s website and uploading new rhino research publications. It is an excellent reference base, used by students, researches and rhino conservation professionals alike

African Rhino Specialist Group, Africa

  • We sent an additional grant of $24,000, from the USFWS Rhino & Tiger Conservation Fund, to pay for further days’ work by Dr Sam Ferreira, the AfRSG Scientific Officer, during 2023
  • We were able to award $11,988.80 from the Scott & Jessica McClintock Foundation (originally $12,000 but $11.20 was lost in transfer fees on the way to us, which we topped up from our own core funds), for the work of the AfRSG’s Scientific Officer

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia

  • We sent $192 from Y2 of USFWS’s 5-year grant for subsistence and travel costs incurred by National Rhino Coordinator Piet Beytell, who travelled to Zambia to advise on potential rhino reintroductions

Borana Conservancy, Kenya

  • We paid £2,000 from core funds, £675.57 from a donation from Kenneth Donaldson and £44 from misc. donations via our website, towards the total grant of £2,719.57, to reimburse consultant Richard Hennery for daily fees, flight, visa and anti-malarials incurred during his visit to Borana in May 2023 to review the progress of Mazingira Yetu, the conservation education programme targeting schools and villages around the Conservancy. Key recommendations arising from his visit revolved around: reallocating the funds for community events during 2023 to redirect them towards teacher workshops and exchange visits; focusing on Mazingira Yetu’s Theory of Change (knowledge – Attitude – Competency – Behaviour) and working out how to scale interventions to appropriate levels for local communities; reducing the number of bus visits per week to allow time to reflect and evaluate; and the importance of matching monitoring and evaluation to the Theory of Change
  • We sent $288.13 (originally $300 but bank charges deducted en route to us) from Francis & Sandi Blake for Borana’s Mobile Health Clinic, in memory of Tony & Rose Dyer
  • We forwarded $10,215 (from the total grant of $75,000) received from Ardea Cares towards the Y2 (calendar year 2023) costs of Mazingira Yetu, the conservation education programme
  • £1,500 received from the Hart Family, following a visit to Borana Conservancy, was restricted for Mazingira Yetu; specifically, to help cover the costs of the salaries of the Conservation Education Officer and Assistant
  • We sent £5,000 from the CHK Foundation for the Mobile Health Clinic, for the period July 23-June 2024
  • We sent a couple of donations for the Borana Education Support Programme, made in honour of Ralph Winter’s birthday: $1,000 from Mark and Carrie Sisson; and another $1,000 from Raphael and Katherine Sidelsky
  • €15,000 from the Stichting Suzuki Rhino Club was assigned to the transport costs involved in delivering Mazingira Yetu, the conservation education programme; while another €20,000 from Paris Zoo helped cover the costs of the fitout of the Centre: misc. fitout (materials and materials and labour); misc. equipment for the classroom; school meals for students @ $340/month; and infographics (design and printing costs)
  • We sent $25,000 from the Springhouse Foundation, for projects at Lokusero Primary School, a boarding and day government school located in the Mukogodo Forest, which neighbours Borana Conservancy. The School is home to 370 students and 10 teachers, current enrolment is from PP1 to Grade 8. Borana Conservancy has been supporting the school with the construction of classrooms, teachers’ salaries and student scholarships. The Foundation’s grant will be allocated as follows: $3,500 to create a playground for the children; $500 to buy equipment including soccer balls; $5,000 to convert the borehole from diesel- to solar-powered; and $16,000 to use for priority needs, e.g. solar-power upgrades, new toilets etc.) Springhouse Foundation

North Luangwa – Lolesha Luangwa Programme, Zambia

  • We sent £1,073.01 received in misc. donations via our website for Lolesha Luangwa, the conservation education programme that targets the schools in the Game Management Areas surrounding North Luangwa National Park

Borana Conservancy, Kenya

  • Thanks to a grant from the CHK Foundation, we were able to send £10,000 to Borana for the renovation of the tourist lodge at Tassia, on the neighbouring Lekurruki Conservancy. Lekurruki may one day host rhinos, via the Laikipia Rhino Range Expansion Project, but in the meantime it is vital that the community sees the benefits of living alongside wildlife. The Lodge has already brought many benefits to the community, e.g.: many children have been sent to school; women have been empowered through employment as well as having a market for their beaded goods, arts and crafts; and young men have benefitted from being employed as guides and displaying their abilities with cultural tools such as fashioning metal objects, throwing spears and enjoying entertaining the guests

Grants 2022-2023

Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia

  • We sent a total of £5,034.93 (including £4,500 from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous) to Way Kambas NP to help pay for the work of the Rhino Protection Units, who patrol the Park to look for Sumatran rhino spoor and to detect and deter illegal activity

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya

  • $1,819 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) paid for the salary for the Intelligence Assistant during March 2022 through Project UPTICK. Another $690 paid for cellphone contracts for two staff members during Q1, 2022
  • $1,819 from INL paid the salary of the Intelligence Assistant during April 2022, funded through Project UPTICK
  • $1,819 from INL for the salary for the Intelligence Assistant during May 2022, funded by INL through Project UPTICK
  • $1,819 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) paid for the salary for the Intelligence Assistant during June 2022 through Project UPTICK. Another $690 paid for cellphone contracts for two staff members during Q2, 2022
  • $1,819 for the salary for the Intelligence Assistant during July 2022, funded by INL through Project UPTICK
  • $1,819 for the salary for the Intelligence Assistant during August 2022, funded by INL through Project UPTICK
  • $1,819 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for the salary for the Intelligence Assistant during September 2022. $19,816 from INL funds covered the cost of setting up LoRA WAN at Ol Jogi, building the interface with EarthRanger, and two months’ worth of support fees. A further $12,616 from INL funds covered three months’ worth of LoRa WAN support fees for Borana Conservancy. And finally, $690 paid for cellphone contracts for two 51 Degrees’ staff members for Q3, 2022
  • $71,500 from an anonymous donor via the ForRangers initiative enabled the launch of the new mounted patrol unit at Lolldaiga Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya: $59,500 for the horses and tack, and $12,000 for a stables manager to oversee ranger-rider training and the procurement of new horses. Another $33,500 from the same donor wa sent to pay for Y1 operating expenditure. Lolldaiga has applied to become a guardian for some of Kenya’s rhinos; becoming ‘rhino-ready’ includes increasing its security patrols. With a large area and hilly terrain, vehicle and/or foot patrols would be difficult. Horseback patrols will be both cheaper and more effective, with the added bonus of generating income via horse-safari-based tourism 

Borana Conservancy, Kenya

  • $5,618 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) paid for aerial surveillance ($5,067 for fixed-wing; $551 for helicopter) over Borana and its neighbours during March 2022, through Project UPTICK. A further $2,675 paid for for intelligence gathering & analysis during March 2022
  • £316 received in misc. donations via our website was transferred to help cover general Conservancy operating costs
  • $2,361 from INL paid for fixed-wing aerial surveillance of Borana and its neighbours during April 2022 and another $2,675 covered the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis, funded through Project UPTICK
  • $3,822 from INL paid for fixed-wing aerial surveillance of Borana and its neighbours during May 2022 and another $2,675 paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during May, and $385.20 for food for source handlers during a training course
  • $4,123 for fixed-wing aerial surveillance of Borana and its neighbours during June 2022, and $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during June, funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
  • $2,724 for fixed-wing aerial surveillance of Borana and its neighbours during July 2022, and $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during July, thanks to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
  • $18,840.08 for fixed-wing aerial surveillance of Borana and its neighbours during Aug 2022, including flights for security and training purposes, and $4,280 for intelligence gathering and analysis support: $2,675 for intel gathering and analysis during August, and $1,605 for a site visit by 51 Degrees’ Intelligence Trainer to brief security staff
  • $5,293.00 from INL paid for fixed-wing aerial surveillance of Borana and its neighbours during September 2022, including flights for security and training purposes
  • $22,457.26 was sent to pay for the integration of LoRa WAN with EarthRangerTM: EarthRangerTM and Tableau ($12,760); monthly support costs for June 2022 ($4,408); and the cost of some devices to track ranger deployments ($5,289.26). Finally, $2,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during September 2022
  • US $7,959.62 from INL and $20 from core funds paid for helicopter hours from Ol Malo Choppers flown during September 2022
  • £118 received in miscellaneous donations via our website was sent to help cover general Conservancy operating costs
  • $2,675 x 3 payments for intelligence gathering and analysis during October, November and December 2022, thanks to the 4-year grant from INL 
  • $4,408 x 3 payments for LoRa WAN and EarthRangerTM support costs during October, November and December 2022, thanks to the grant from INL 
  • £21 received in misc. donations via our website was sent to help cover general Conservancy operating costs 
  • $4,408 for LoRa WAN and EarthRangerTM support costs and $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during January 2023, thanks to the 4-year grant from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
  • $3,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during February 2023 and a site visit by the Intelligence Assistant; another $4,408 paid for LoRa WAN and EarthRangerTM support costs 

Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya

  • $5,034.79 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) paid for IT support provided during March 2022 by 51 Degrees Ltd on the use of EarthRangerTM, a situational-analysis tool that allows live tracking and monitoring of all assets in the protected area
  • $5,034.79 from INL paid for IT support provided during April 2022 by 51 Degrees Ltd for KWS regarding EarthRangerTM
  • $5,034.79 from INL paid for IT support provided during May 2022 by 51 Degrees Ltd for KWS regarding EarthRangerTM
  • $5,034.79 for IT support provided during June 2022 by 51 Degrees Ltd for KWS regarding EarthRangerTM
  • $706.42 for IT support provided during July 2022 by 51 Degrees Ltd for KWS regarding EarthRangerTM
  • $11,290.63 and another $3,107.22 paid for IT support provided during 2022 by 51 Degrees Ltd for KWS regarding EarthRangerTM
  • US $14,387.10 from INL was sent to pay for ongoing IT support during October 2022 for KWS sites using EarthRangerTM: the KWS HQ in Nairobi, five national parks (Tsavo West, Lake Nakuru, Aberdare, Meru and Amboseli), and seven regional headquarters (Western, Mountain, Tsavo, Southern, Coastal, Central Rift (Lake Nakuru) and Eastern)
  • $14,387.10 x 2 payments from INL was sent to pay for ongoing IT support during November and December 2022 for KWS sites using EarthRangerTM: the KWS HQ in Nairobi, five national parks (Tsavo West, Lake Nakuru, Aberdare, Meru & Amboseli), and seven regional headquarters (Western, Mountain, Tsavo, Southern, Coastal, Central Rift (Lake Nakuru) & Eastern)
  • $14,387.10 from INL to pay for ongoing IT support during January 2023 for KWS sites using EarthRangerTM
  • $14,387.10 from INL paid for ongoing IT support during February 2023 for KWS sites using EarthRangerTM: the KWS HQ in Nairobi, five national parks and seven regional headquarters. Another $5,540 paid 51 Degrees’ staff to equip and install hardware and EarthRangerTM software in the Ops Room in Mt Kenya National Park 

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

  • $2,675 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during March 2022. Another $8,271.10 paid for aerial surveillance ($2,236.30 for fixed-wing; $6,034.80 for chopper) over Lewa and its neighbours during March 2022, again through Project UPTICK
  • We sent grants / donations from several donors to help cover the cost of Lewa’s canine unit (two dogs and five handlers): £325 received in miscellaneous donations via our website, €1,000 from Rotterdam Zoo, and £1,250 from the Betty Lawes Foundation. Lewa’s canine unit was involved in 14 live deployments during 2021, as well as training sessions six times a week
  • $8,859.60 from INL paid for helicopter surveillance of Lewa and its neighbours during April 2022 and another $2,675 covered the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis
  • $13,445.62 from INL paid for fixed-wing and chopper time during May 2022: $11,941.20 for helicopter flying time during shared-asset training and aerial surveillance over Lewa and its neighbours; and $1,504.42 for fixed-wing flying time. Another $2,675 covered the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis during May
  • $10,462.46 from INL paid for fixed-wing and chopper time during June 2022: $10,015.20 for helicopter flying time for aerial surveillance over Lewa and its neighbours; and $447.26 for fixed-wing flying time. Another $2,675 covered the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis during June
  • $3,208.54 from INL paid for fixed-wing and chopper time during July: $2,436 for helicopter flying time during training and aerial surveillance over Lewa and its neighbours; and $772.54 for fixed-wing flying time. Another $2,675 paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during July
  • $4,280 for intelligence support: $2,675 for intel gathering and analysis during August, and $1,605 for a site visit by 51 Degrees’ Intelligence Trainer to brief security staff. Another $8,448.82 from INL covered the cost of aerial surveillance of Lewa and its neighbours during August 2022: $5,724.60 for helicopter hours, and $2,724.22 for fixed-wing flying time
  • $4,475 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for intelligence support: $2,675 for intel gathering and analysis during September, and $1,800 for expenses incurred during Source Handler Advanced and Refresher courses
  • $15,420.28 paid for fixed-wing and flying time during training and aerial surveillance over Lewa and its neighbours; and $6,012.28 for fixed-wing flying time during surveillance and training exercises
  • $22,896 helped pay for the integration of LoRa WAN with EarthRangerTM, specifically for purchasing LoRa devices to be deployed on rhinos, rangers, gates etc.
  • $2,675 from INL paid for intel gathering and analysis during October 2022, and another US $16,752.74 paid for helicopter hours from Ol Malo Choppers flown during September 2022
  • $2,675 from INL paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during November and December 2022, thanks to the 4-year grant from INL 
  • $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during January 2023, thanks to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ 4-year grant
  • $3,675 from INL paid for for intelligence gathering and analysis during February 2023, and a site visit by the Intelligence Assistant 

Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya

  • We sent $3,045 for fixed-wing surveillance over Ol Jogi and its neighbours during March 2022, funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) through Project UPTICK. A further $2,675 paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during March 2022
  • We sent grants / donations from several donors to help cover the cost of Ol Jogi’s canine unit: €150 euros and £642 received in misc. donations via our website; €1,000 euros from Rotterdam Zoo; and £1,250 from the Betty Lawes Foundation. There are currently five dogs in Ol Jogi’s canine unit: four working detector dogs (all Bloodhounds) and one retired attack dog (a Belgian Malinois). Two of the Bloodhounds are puppies that were bred at nearby Ol Pejeta Conservancy. They are now one year old and are progressing well with their training
  • $2,033 from INL paid for fixed-wing aerial surveillance of Ol Jogi and its neighbours, and another $2,675 paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during April 2022, funded by INL through Project UPTICK
  • $2,033 from INL paid for fixed-wing aerial surveillance over Ol Jogi and its neighbours during May 2022; $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during May, and $385.20 for food for source handlers during a training course
  • $2,675 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs paid for intelligence gathering and analysis during June
  • $2,390.80 from INL paid for fixed-wing aerial surveillance of Ol Jogi and its neighbours during July 2022, while another $2,675 covered the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis
  • $4,347.20 for aerial surveillance of Ol Jogi and its neighbours during August 2022: $2,314.20 for helicopter hours, and $2,033 for fixed-wing flying time. And another $4,280 from INL paid for intelligence support: $2,675 for intel gathering and analysis during August, and $1,605 for a site visit by 51 Degrees’ Intelligence Trainer to brief security staff
  • $14,836.19 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for aerial surveillance of Ol Jogi and its neighbours during September 2022: $9,477.20 for helicopter hours, and $5,358.99 for fixed-wing flying time. Another $2,675 supported intelligence gathering and analysis
  • $49,000 (part of the Y2 (2023) grant of $80,453.56 from the US Fish and Wildlife Service) was sent to pay for a new Landcruiser for Ol Jogi’s general security team 
  • €2,908.95 (from a total grant of €5,000 from Erlebnis Zoo Hannover) was used to pay Smart Idea in South Africa for a new touch screen for Ol Jogi’s Ops Room. The old one had died and the cost of repairing it was almost as high as buying a new screen from South Africa
  • €2,091.05 from Erlebnis Zoo Hannover was transferred sent to pay for shipping the touch screen from South Africa to Nairobi and then up to Ol Jogi 
  • $3,675 from INL paid for for intelligence gathering and analysis during February 2023, and a site visit by the Intelligence Assistant 

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

  • We were fortunate to receive a 2-year grant extension from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, which now includes Ol Pejeta as well as Ol Jogi, Borana and Wildlife Conservancies, as well as additional Kenyan national parks. In November we sent $2,675 from the INL grant to reimburse OPC for intel gathering and analysis support costs incurred during October
  • $2,675 x 2 payments for intelligence gathering and analysis during November and December 2022, thanks to the 4-year grant from INL 
  • $2,675 for intelligence gathering and analysis during January 2023, thanks to the grant from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
  • $3,675 from INL paid for for intelligence gathering and analysis during February 2023, and a site visit by the Intelligence Assistant 

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia

  • The Woodtiger Fund’s grant paid for several invoices connected with rhino operations (dehorning for security purposes) on private and community custodian properties: $3,771.03 (N$ 57,300) paid Piet Beytell an advance for fuel for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle for rhino ops in June 2022, and for subsistence and travel allowances for 5 x MEFT personnel involved in the operations; $3,280.78 paid Etzold Auto Repairs CC for repairs (labour and parts) to the Rhino Recovery Vehicle; and $2,151.40 paid for new tyres for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle
  • The grant from USFWS paid other invoices for upcoming rhino operations: $11,619.65 paid for 30 drums of fuel for the Ministry’s helicopter; $18,600 paid for 10 x scavenger tracking devices to aid carcass detection; and $36,078.53 paid for 15 satellite bracelets for rhinos and five collars for predators to aid carcass detection, plus the annual satellite fees
  • $2,283.72 from the Woodtiger Fund paid part of an invoice for repairs, spare parts and labour for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle; the remaining $678.53 came from the Valerie G. Merrin 2006 Trust
  • $1,200.16 from the Valerie G. Merrin 2006 Trust paid for a metal detector to be used for wildlife-crime-scene investigations, and another $252.33 paid for paint ball refills. Whenever a rhino has been darted for a veterinary intervention, it is marked with water-soluble colour paint so that it is not, inadvertently, darted a second time. The paint soon rubs or washes off in wallows and dust baths
  • A legacy from the Valerie G Merrin 2006 Trust paid for several things: $803.34 for repairs to the K9 Unit vehicle: a new front wheel, brake rotor, stub axle and nut, side-shaft seal, brake pads and grease; $355.41 for an Iridium E-voucher for the satellite phone used for rhino emergencies; $311.68 for new tyres for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle; and $172.91 to reimburse Piet Beytell for fuel for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used in annual rhino operations. The remaining $110.76 for this payment (total $283.67) came from USFWS
  • We sent £1,583.65 from the Ania Wanda Wasilewski legacy to pay Piet Beytell for fuel, and subsistence and travel while on site visits in Nyae Nyae Conservancy and Khaudum National Park to check on the construction of anti-poaching unit camps for the planned Khaudum rhino introduction 
  • We sent a series of payments from the USFWS grant for law-enforcement and protection activities: $2,954.52 to pay for fuel needed for a site visit to Waterberg Plateau Park; $9,439.73 to pay for helicopter hire to retrieve rhinos that had broken out of protected areas; $6,000 for SMART consultant to work on the rhino-poaching-hotspot prediction model; $1,787.88 for vehicle repairs (spare parts and labour) for vehicles used in annual rhino operations; $2,973.89 for consumables used during rhino immobilisations (e.g. chainsaw blades, mutton cloth, duct-tape, staps, nuts and bolts etc.); $15,498.64 for 30 sealed drums of AvGas, to be used for dehorning operations; $10,137.56 for fixed-wings’ 600 hours’ and 100 hours ‘airframe inspections, new clean air filters, paint touch-up and misc. spare parts; $6,767.88 for drugs, darts and other consumable supplies used in annual rhino operations; $671 for cryo-tubes, vials, pipettes and slides for storing biological samples taken opportunistically during annual rhino operations; $1,179.65 for drugs used to anaesthetize rhinos during annual rhino operations; $701.94 for three screens and a router, used to analyse rhino and security data; and $1,936.67 for a service for the truck used for rhino operations (labour, supplies and spare parts)
  • We sent two payments from the Ania Wanda Wasilweski legacy: £465.47 from to pay Blue Telecoms for iridium airtime; and £110.04 to pay Radio Electronic for an iridium li-Ion battery 
  • $4,216.37 from USFWS was sent to pay for accommodation for the Ministry’s team while carrying out dehorning operations, and another $139.88 from USFWS paid for new matting for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle, used during all rhino opsWe sent a series of payments from Year 2 of USFWS’s five-year grant for MEFT’s work: $1,683.14 as a fuel advance for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle, used in rhino operations throughout Namibia; $1,286.52 for the purchase of a new portable generator for dehorning operations; $2,102.48 to pay Novecy for drugs used during annual rhino operations; and $11,994.84 to pay SwaVet for drugs and consumables used during annual rhino ops

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

  • We sent $27,544 awarded by our sister organization, Save the Rhino International Inc., $1,000 from the Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation, €1,000 from Monde Sauvage Safari Parc, and $6 from our own core funds to help pay for a new Toyota Hilux, to be used by the anti-poaching teams in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Providing a new vehicle will: allow consistent and reliable vehicle support for patrol teams operating on foot during reactions and medical emergencies; reduce maintenance costs; and allow vehicle access to a larger proportion of the Wilderness Area. Vehicles are the lifeline in HiP, and can often mean the difference between success and failure, or between life and death
  • £5,000 from the Betty Lawes Foundation completed the fundraising campaign for the cost of a new Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6 4×4 SR, plus summit bull bar (Toyota ARB) and cattle railings
  • £7,796 raised by Lizzie Hide via the ‘Art for Rhinos’ fundraising initiative was sent for the Park’s K9 unit; another £204 from core funds rounded the total up to £8,000. The Park currently has two full-time dogs (Belgian Malinois) and handlers, and is currently in the process of expanding to include an additional Bloodhound scent dog, as well as an independent tracking dog. This grant will cover half the annual salary of a K9 Unit Coordinator, as well as training for the handlers at the South African Wildlife College, and assessment at the end of August 2023 as to the effectiveness of the Unit. The grant is being managed on SRI’s behalf by Wildlife ACT
  • €3,900 from Ales Weiner was allocated towards the repairs needed for Hluhluwe Game Reserve’s Anti-Poaching Unit’s Landcruiser; we also sent £783.84 from miscellaneous restricted donations received via our website and an anonymous donation of £1,000 to help cover the cost of the repairs
  • An additional €2,864.33 (ZAR 50,000) from core funds was sent to cover for the additional cost in upgrading from a Toyota Hilux to a Toyota Raider, to be deployed in the Makhamisa Section of HiP; while €5,500 received from Safari de Peaugres in France was sent to the Hluhluwe Honorary Officers’ account to be used as needed for the Park
  • We sent €10,000 received from Kiezebrink Focus on Food: this grant can be used flexibly to cover any needs that arise, and is very warmly welcomed by Dirk Swart, the Section Ranger in Manzibomvu Section
  • We sent $5,848 (part of the 2023 grant of $18,318 from the Anna Merz Rhino Trust ) to pay for the final phase of repairs needed for Hluhluwe’s APU’s Toyota Landcruiser (licence plate NCS 208)
  • £10,000 from the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust was forwarded to cover the costs of operating the Savannah light aircraft for aerial surveillance over HiP during 2023. The grant will pay for: fuel (based on average fuel use per month); Private Pilot License (PPL) renewal; 50hr oil replacement aircraft service; 100hr comprehensive aircraft service; Spidertracks; hangar maintenance and aircraft care; and aircraft administration 
  • $20,000 from the Woodtiger Fund (the Y1 instalment of 3-year grant totalling $97,000) was sent for the project entitled: “Increasing the effectiveness of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park’s K9 Unit”. These funds will be used to pay for: recruiting K9 Unit Coordinator and helping to pay the salary; recruit an additional handler and paying their salary; provide ongoing training of dogs and handlers; maintaining the K9 unit vehicle; replace vehicle tires as necessary; maintaining the K9 unit’s camp; purchasing veterinary supplies as needed; providing and replacing equipment; and administering and reporting on the project. Other donor funding from The Isibindi Foundation Trust is paying for the purchase of a cold-scent tracking dog and two independent tracking dogs, and for the evaluation of the success of the K9 Unit project; while Hill’s Pet Nutrition is supporting the recurring needs of dog food and care 
  • A series of grants from US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Rhino and Tiger Conservation Fund’s Y2 grant totalling $81,926.98 was sent to pay for law-enforcement activities as follows: $29,837.28 for new vehicle tyres; $4,159.98 for vehicle repairs; and $10,400.00 for repairs to / replacements for small / misc. items of equipment 

uMkhuze Game Reserve, South Africa

  • £1,098.12 from core funds and £312.56 from misc. restricted donations received via our website covered the cost of the renewal of annual insurance policy for uMkhuze’s Foxbat light aircraft
  • We sent several donations to pay for the purchase of three new laptops and two new screens: £100 received in miscellaneous donations via our website, €1,142.27 from Zoom Torino, and £2,100 from West Midland Safari Park. The laptops being used by the Section Ranger Mshopi, Section Ranger Matakisi, Rhino Monitor, Tech Support, and Eco Advice were ageing and needed replacing
  • $15,426 from the Anna Merz Rhino Trust was sent to cover aerial surveillance costs during 2023, budgeted at: Annual insurance of Light Sports Aircraft ZU-ILA @ $1,834; Fuel x 6 hours/week @ 18 litres 95 octane/hour = 108 litres/week = $8,397; Minor service x 6/year = $917; Major service x 6/year = $1,834; Advanced Handling Course for Light Sports Aircraft for both pilots = $1,222; and a Bose A20 Headset x 1 @ $1,222 
  • $8,476.50 (part of the Y2 (2023) total grant of $81,804.34 from the US Fish and Wildlife Service) was sent to buy new vehicle tyres for uMkhuze’s patrol vehicles 
  • Our Christmas 2022 ‘KZN Rhinos appeal’ raised funds for uMkhuze Game Reserve and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Eduard Goosen, the Conservation Manager at MGR, has requested that he spend his share of the funds (£13,764.89 plus €8,750) as follows: R42,000 on communications network equipment requirements; R47,500 on improving field ranger accommodation (5 x Kwikot Kwiksol Direct 100-Litre Solar Geysers); R35,000 on re-thatching the roof for the Anti-Poaching Unit Officer’s house; R53,500 on miscellaneous equipment items, including a label printer, DSLR camera and lens, and camera traps; R82,500 on solar geysers and roofing for Field Ranger staff accommodation; 3 x laptops @ R25,000 each plus 3 x Samsung F390 24 Inch Full HD Curved Screen @ R4,000 each, for three members of management staff (Section Ranger Matakisi; APU Officer; and Eco Advice); and R112,500 on reverse-osmosis water purification systems. The remaining funding is being added to other grants made via SRI to pay for e.g. replacement laptops and screens, licence plate recognition system for the CCTV at one of the Reserve’s gates. Our thanks to the following donors: Chessington World of Adventure (£400); Fondation Le Pal Nature (€5,000); SafariPark Beekse Bergen (€3,750); The Betty Lawes Foundation (£1,000); and West Midland Safari Park (£1,070.32), as well as other miscellaneous donations via our website restricted for uMkhuze 

North Luangwa Conservation Programme, Zambia

  • We sent $200,000 from the Wildcat Foundation towards law-enforcement activities in North Luangwa National Park: salaries for Village Game Scouts and the Strategic Law-Enforcement Technical Advisor; training; incentives for excellent performance; vehicle fuel maintenance; and aerial surveillance (Cessna fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter)
  • Another $100,000 from the Wildcat Foundation went towards law-enforcement activities in North Luangwa National Park as above
  • We sent a further $100,000 from the Wildcat Foundation’s total Y1 grant of $1,349,150 towards law-enforcement activities in North Luangwa National Park
  • We sent another $200,000 from the Wildcat Foundation towards law-enforcement activities in North Luangwa National Park
  • We forwarded $15,520.44 from INL funds to be used for K9 unit operations in the North Luangwa and Nsumbu ecosystems of northern Zambia 
  • We sent another $51,197.66 from the Wildcat Foundation’s Y1 grant towards the cost of law-enforcement activities in NLNP 
  • $300,000 from Wildcat Foundation’s Y1 grant for law-enforcement operations in North Luangwa National Park 

Lowveld Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe

  • $6,850 (part of a total grant of $25,000) from the Anna Merz Rhino Trust, for vehicle fuel and maintenance for the Lowveld Rhino Law Enforcement Task Force (LRLETF)

Follow the money investigation, Africa

  • We sent a series of transfers to pay for a follow-the-money investigation into a rhino-poaching and rhino-horn-trafficking syndicate operating in sub-Saharan Africa: ZAR 65,487.76 from core funds; ZAR 142,646.84 from MalaMala Game Reserve (PTY) Ltd; £52,257.02 funded by the UK Government through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund; and another ZAR 21,664.66 from MalaMala Game Reserve (PTY) Ltd
  • £63,383.71 from the UK Government’s IWTCF paid for Y2Q2 work on the follow-the-money investigation
  • £27,591.05 from the UK Government’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund paid for Y2Q3 work on the follow-the-money investigation
  • £48,268.61 from the UK Government through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund paid for Y2Q3 work (October-December 2022) on the follow-the-money investigation  
  • $116,407.66 from an anonymous donor was sent to pay for the Y2Q3 (October-December 2022) work on the follow-the-money investigation 
  • Another $90,689.93 from the anonymous donor was sent to help pay for work during Y2Q3 (October-December 2022) on the follow-the-money investigation
  • £28.60 from core funds to paid for the surveys used during a series of webinars in March to share lessons learned from the follow-the-money investigation 
  • We sent £23,131.62 from the UK government through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund for the FtM investigation, for work done during the period January-March 2023. This is the last payment from the grant, which totalled £316,594. We supplemented that with £5,000 from the Mark Leonard Trust; £10,000 from the Linbury Trust; and $40,899.17 (from the original donation of $250,000) from an anonymous donor

Indian Rhino Vision 2.0, India

  • We sent €2,000 from Parc animalier et botanique de Branféré; to be used for habitat maintenance work in Manas National Park, which is home to a growing population of Greater one-horned rhinos, thanks to Indian Rhino Vision 2020’s reintroductions of the species
  • We sent €2,500 from Rotterdam Zoo in August 2022; to help pay for habitat management (clearing invasive species so that more rhino foodstuffs can grow, thus supporting a larger Greater one-horned rhino population) in Manas NP in Assam
  • We sent another €5,000 euros received from Parc animalier et botanique de Branféré to be used for habitat maintenance work in Manas NP

Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

  • We sent £565.51 received in miscellaneous donations via our website, and a $1,790.32 donation from Sanctuary, to help pay for Arenga palm eradication in Ujung Kulon National Park and the adjacent Gunung Honje area. The work will take place in Q4 2022
  • In October 2022 we sent further donations for the Arenga palm eradication project: $2,976.85 from Sanctuary; £324 from Sanjana Bryant; £460 received in misc. donations via our website; and £5,000 from the Simon Gibson Charitable Trust

Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia

  • We transferred £1,167.50 received in misc. donations via our website for the reafforestation project around the boundary of Way Kambas National Park in Lampung Province in southern Sumatra. This project provides employment for local villages while improving habitat for wildlife and birds in the National Park

Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, Indonesia

  • We sent a series of grants to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park, where the third captive-bred Sumatran rhino calf was born on 24 March 2022, giving new hope for the survival of the species: €16,062.46 euros from Fondation Lutreola; £958.04 received in misc. donations via our website; £2,341.92 from Speake-Marin; £6,235.65 raised by the Cambridge dinner for the SRS (25% of total income), hosted by former Trustee Tim Holmes; £1,250 from West Midland Safari Park; and €1,454 euros from Zoo Hodonín. The funds will help pay for the SRS’s running costs: staff salaries, Sanctuary maintenance, and daily fresh browse for the growing population of rhinos
  • We sent another series of grants to the SRS in October 2022: £4,845.74 from Speake-Marin in June 2022, £2,337.56 from West Midland Safari Park and £1,328.92 received in misc. donations via our website

Borana Conservancy, Kenya 

  • USFWS sent the Y2 funds (totalling $61,500) for its 5-year grant for Borana Conservancy, which covered: $39,000 for Phase 1 of the upgrade of the predator-proof fence bordering Ngare Ndare to mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict (3,000 metres @ $13 / metre, including materials and labour); and $15,000 for the repair of Gaitano dam, the cost of which includes hire of bulldozer, diesel, delivery of bulldozer to site and back, and driver’s subsistence allowance 

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya 

  • USFWS’s Y2 grant, totalling $89,483.92, was sent to pay for a number of things related to the biological management of Lewa’s black and white rhino populations: $2,100 for annual in-house refresher training for rhino monitors across the Lewa-Borana Landscape, and to update the Master ID rhino files across the LBL; $5,500.00 for 10 x SMART camera-traps @ $550 / unit; $25,200.00 pay for 16 x rhinos ear-notched @ $1,575 / animal, which includes drugs, helicopter and fixed-wing, personnel costs, coordination, laboratory tests and vehicle use; and $25,970.00 for elephant exclusion zones: 3,500 metres @ $7.42 per meter (includes materials, labour, rations and transport) 

Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya

  • We sent $28,861.19, funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, to pay for helicopter and fixed-wing flying hours over Ol Jogi and its neighbours during June 2022. During the month, Ol Jogi carried out ear-notching operations so that sub-adults can be identified after they leave their mothers. The ability to ID individual animals is crucial not only for monitoring rhino population performance, but also to identify any ‘missing’ animals that might have been poached, when early detection is vital if rangers are to be able to follow up via intelligence, canine units etc.
  • £215 from the APLRS Emergency Fund (thanks to donations from Ales Weiner and Steven Lucker) reimbursed Ol Jogi Conservancy for 50% of the costs of veterinary interventions needed during the period April 2021-March 2022. In December 2021, a male black rhino called Moyo required anaesthesia and treatment for an injury sustained to his front left leg, suspected to have been caused by another rhino. Moyo made a full recovery. Costs were incurred for the drugs and dart, the vet, the vet’s vehicle fuel and other misc. costs; another funder paid for the helicopter and fixed-wing time involved in the operation
  • $1,111.72 reimbursed Frankie Elsner-Gearing for travel costs from Manchester to Nairobi to collect data for the rhino-eye project funded by the National Geographic Society
  • More funds from the National Geographic Society’s grants were used to pay invoices relating to the rhino-eye project: $10,169.01 to pay for 20 x DNA analyses (DNA sample QC, data quality control, Illumina Sequencing PE150, plant and animal whole genome library preparation (350bp)); and $400 to pay the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) in Kenya for a research licence fee for Frankie Elsner-Gearing 
  • We sent $5,250 (part of the total award of $20,000 from the proceeds of the ForRangers Ultra 2023) to pay for rhino-monitoring equipment: 25 pairs of binoculars, 6 x GPS devices, and 1 x digital camera for the carnivore monitor. The new Carnivore Monitor requires a digital camera to take identification photographs whenever they make a sighting of one of the resident carnivores. These images are important for capturing accurate data and building distribution records of the carnivores on Ol Jogi. Binoculars and GPS devices are required by the Rhino Monitors and NPRs to correctly identify and collect accurate data on the rhinos sighted. These pieces of equipment are also important for the National Police Reservists (i.e. armed rangers) during stakeouts or while out on patrol

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

  • £286 from the APLRS Emergency Fund (thanks to donations from Ales Weiner and Steven Lucker) reimbursed Ol Pejeta Conservancy for 50% of the costs of veterinary interventions needed during the period April 2021-March 2022. In December 2021, an adult male black rhino called Maendeleo had an eye infection; he has since gone on to make a full recovery. The costs included antibiotics, analgesics and eye ointment, as well as a sample collection kit and dressings, and vehicle fuel incurred in the operation

Sera Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

  • £285 from the APLRS Emergency Fund (thanks to donations from Ales Weiner and Steven Lucker) reimbursed Sera Wildlife Conservancy for 50% of the costs of veterinary interventions needed during the period April 2021-March 2022. In March 2022, a rhino called Lojipu sustained injuries during a territorial fight with a bigger male. Lojipu has made a full recovery. The costs were for the drugs and the fixed-wing flight needed to dart the rhino

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia

  • $1,127.30 from the Woodtiger Fund paid for maintenance and replacement parts for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used in annual dehorning and translocation operations
  • We sent a series of grants from the Woodtiger Fund to pay for items needed for the Ministry’s annual rhino operations: $2,350.69 to pay Pupkewitz for misc. consumable items (chisel set, tape measure, hacksaw steel frame, claw hammer etc.); $9,643.69 to pay TyrePro for new tyres for the trucks used in the operations; a total of $628.04 to Piet Beytell, Hans Swartbooi, Hermanus Benjamin Le Roux and De Wet Simasiku for travel and subsistence; $1,689.72 to pay Mast’s Garage for repairs to the truck; $2,244.77 to pay Fo-Sho Auto Repairs for repairs to another truck; and $974.65 to Piet Beytell for fuel for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle
  • The Woodtiger Fund also paid $83.32 for five magnetic stickers for the rhino crates used in rhino translocations, and $1,927.02 to Piet Beytell for fuel for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle used for rhino ops
  • $1,756.44 from the Valerie G Merrin 2006 Trust paid for a new solar pump and installation at one of the waterholes used by rhino in Etosha NP
  • $1,336.94 from the 5-year USFWS grant paid veterinarian Ortwin Aschenborn for his fees for leading rhino dehorning ops during May 2022
  • $12,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation was sent to support rhino monitoring in Nyae Nyae Conservancy. Originally intended to be used to pay for rhino monitoring equipment in Nyae Nyae Conservancy, we agreed that it could be spent on rations, salaries and rhino / field-day bonuses for Nyae Nyae’s trackers
  • $719.12 from the Woodtiger Fund was advanced to the National Rhino Coordinator for subsistence and travel costs for Piet, Hans Swartbooi, Hermanus Benjamin Le Roux, Nicolas Hafeni, Festus Lihuhwa, Erik Kahare and Abiniel Nekandu during annual rhino operations in rhino custodian properties
  • $628.86 from the Valerie G. Merrin 2006 Trust was advanced to the National Rhino Coordinator, Piet Beytell, for subsistence and travel costs when visiting Mangetti NP for rhino monitoring
  • We made multiple payments to suppliers on behalf of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism from the 5-year grant awarded by USFWS: $3,895 to purchase 2 x tyres for the truck used for rhino translocations; $1,059.73 to pay for a new fridge for the Rhino Recovery Vehicle, in which to store DNA samples taken from rhinos while anaesthetised; $1,054.28 to pay the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of Pretoria for 120 routine / forensic RhODIS kits; $1,525.92 for 25 x Backhome microchips, used to implant in rhinos’ bodies and horns; $416.14 to pay for a new canopy and reflective windscreen protector for one of the single cab vehicles used in annual rhino operations; and $1,728.57 to pay for misc. equipment (batteries, plugs, clips, cables etc.) for the vehicles used in annual rhino ops
  • A series of payments from the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s 5-year grant were made to suppliers direct as follows: $4,815.94 for drugs used for rhino immobilisations; $11,022.03 from USFWS to pay for annual inspection of the fixed-wing aircraft used for annual rhino ops, together with spare parts, repairs and labour; $2,699.32 to pay for repairs and spares to the K9 unit’s vehicle & to another Landcruiser used for annual rhino ops; $1,134.58 from USFWS for drugs used for rhino immobilisations; $1,024.17 to pay DMP Statistical Solutions for the Shiny app, used to analyse rhino data; $1,543.53 for 6 x SMART devices for rhino monitoring; and $251.30 for 20 x SanDisk memory cards for camera traps 
  • We sent £3,527.40 from the Ania Wanda Wasilewski legacy to pay for two new pumps for the water boreholes in Mangetti NP, to replace the ones that had broken

Save the Rhino Trust, Namibia

  • We sent £1,500 received from Jim and Tammy Patton, and another £3,024.27 from them via matching funds from Apple, to be used to cover CEO Simson Uri-Khob’s expenses while at the Africa’s Protected Area Congress in Kigali, with the surplus to be used for rations for SRT’s trackers. Another £386.08 received in misc. restricted donations via our website was also sent to pay for rations for SRT’s trackers while out on patrol
  • We sent a £10,000 donation from Sue Ripley in memory of David Williamson, to be spent on completing the upgrades to the main camp at Maigoha; any surplus will be allocated to building a lion-proof fence for the Mounted Patrol Unit camp at Axab, and on vehicle fuel. David and Sue had visited the Kunene Region together several years ago, and had a memorable encounter with a feisty black rhino named Speedy. Speedy died of natural causes at a good old age, having fathered many calves. We also sent £2,346.27 received in misc. donations, to be spent on vehicle fuel; the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine has increased fuel costs worldwide
  • We sent £478 received in misc. dons via our website (inc. Berry White’s fundraising efforts), to be used to help cover the Mounted Patrol Unit’s costs, together with a £3,000 grant from the Marjorie Coote Animal Charity Trust to help pay for the Mounted Patrol Unit, specifically, for the MPU camp at Axab 
  • €5,250 from Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine was sent to help pay for fuel and rations 
  • The Y2 (2023) grant totalling $95,480.12 from USFWS was forwarded to help cover costs as follows: $46,960 for SRT’s trackers’ salaries; and $40,000 for vehicle fuel 

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

  • $2,081.30 from core funds and $4,005.47 from the Woodtiger Fund paid for chopper hours during annual ear-notching operations in April 2022; and another $692.24 from Woodtiger paid for the drugs and darts needed to anesthetise the rhino. It’s important to be able to individually identify 1-2 year-old calves before they separate from their mothers, for future monitoring and genetic analysis of the health of the population, and to identify suitable candidates for establishing new populations elsewhere
  • We sent €11,941.93 from core funds, to pay for the salary of a Rhino Monitor for 14 months. The new recruit will have a handover period with Kelsey Leeming, the outgoing Rhino Monitor, so will start work in mid-Nov 2022. Another €2,731.03 from core funds will pay for the vehicle running costs of HiP’s Rhino Monitor during calendar year 2023

uMkhuze Game Reserve, South Africa

  • We sent $2,818 awarded by our sister organization, Save the Rhino International Inc. (part of a total $9,899 grant) to help cover the cost of the rhino monitor’s (Joshua Rogers) salary for the last 2.5 months of 2022
  • We awarded €13,064.93 from core funds to pay for the salary of uMkhuze’s Rhino Monitor, Joshua Rogers, during calendar year 2023

Lowveld Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe 

  • We sent £300 from core funds to pay for rhino monitoring data entry into LRT’s rhino database 
  • We awarded £35,750 from core funds, to help cover LRT’s operating costs during 2023, including the staff salaries of the Director and Rhino Monitoring Coordinator
  • We also sent €5,000 from Dublin Zoo in August 2022, to be used to help cover rhino monitoring costs during 2023

Environmental Investigation Agency, UK

  • We sent $12,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation for the ‘Changing China’ project. This aims to strengthen the legal regime in China pertaining to wildlife protection, through support of local actors, direct advocacy and provision of expertise, with the eventual aim of stopping all trade in rhino and tiger parts in China. Its objectives are: to advocate for the adoption of a new State Council order and/or amendments to China’s wildlife laws; to encourage and amplify diverse voices calling for an end to trade in threatened wildlife; and to undertake research and produce analysis to support policy recommendations

African Rhino Specialist Group, Africa

  • Thanks to a grant from Save the Elephants, we sent $3,100 towards the production of Issue 63 of Pachyderm, the journal of the African Rhino and Elephant Specialist Groups and the Asian Rhino Specialist Group
  • We sent further grants to help cover the costs of producing Issue 63 of Pachyderm: $112.71 from core funds; $3,892.40 from Save the Elephants; and $1,994.89 from the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife
  • A grant of $4,000 from Oak Philanthropy UK Ltd helped cover the balance of the production costs of Issue 63; as did £3,589.21 from the Aspinall Foundation (specifically, for IT and design support); and $460 (from a total award of $1,494.62) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal 
  • We sent a series of grants for the production of issue # 64 of Pachyderm, the Journal of the African Elephant, African Rhino and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups: €1,500 from core funds; £1,125.59 from the Aspinall Foundation; and $1,034.62 from the University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Thanks to another total grant of $14,982 from Save the Elephants, we sent $13,000 towards the production costs of  issue 64 of Pachyderm 

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya

  • The donors and fundraisers supporting the ForRangers initiative have enabled the renewal and expansion of our insurance cover for rangers working in Africa. A grant of £57,881.58 to the Game Rangers Association of Africa paid for life insurance for 1,757 rangers at field programmes in East and Southern Africa, from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. Another $78,209.66 paid for a life insurance policy from 13 June 2022 to 12 June 2023 via Viva-365 to cover rangers working for the following organizations: Borana Conservancy, El Karama, Il Mamusi, Il’Ngwesi, Loisaba, Lolldaiga, Mara Elephant Project, Mt Kenya Trust, Mugie, Ngorare, Ol Jogi Conservancy, Ol Maisor, Ole Naishu, Segera, Sosian and Suyian in Kenya; Gashaka Gumti National Park in Nigeria; Big Life Foundation and Grumeti Reserve in Tanzania; and the North Luangwa Conservation Programme in Zambia. ForRangers’ fundraising efforts now protect a total of 3,263 rangers in 62 protected areas in 11 African countries: Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
  • $7,700 from INL paid for uniform items for rangers at Borana (121 T-shirts, 89 sweaters, 89 double lanyards and seven fly sheets); and at Ol Jogi (44 camouflage items, 35 green heavy jackets, 10 green shirts, 10 green pairs of trousers, nine camouflage hats and 10 green bush hats, 32 green shirts and eight fly sheets)
  • $963 from INL via Project UPTICK for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up course reports for rangers from Ol Jogi, Borana and Lewa Wildlife Conservancies. These reports are tracked via EarthRangerTM, and show progress at unit and individual ranger levels, and help inform Conservancy Managers and HR departments of any issues that need addressing, or of individuals that merit promotion
  • We sent another $3,852 from INL for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up course reports for rangers from Ol Jogi, Borana and Lewa Wildlife Conservancies
  • $1,926 from INL paid for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up course reports for rangers from Ol Jogi, Borana and Lewa Wildlife Conservancies; and another $4,339.38 was used to buy further medical kit items for the patrol medics previously trained at Ol Jogi, Borana and Lewa Wildlife Conservancies
  • $9,183 from the INL grant for Y3 was used to pay for patrol medic kit items for rangers from Ol Jogi, Borana, Lewa Wildlife and Ol Pejeta Conservancies: 30 individual first aid kits; 40 x combat application tourniquets; 70 x 6″ emergency care bandages with pressure bars; and 4 x Patrol Medic packs 
  • £2,207.51 from ForRangers’ funds was sent to pay for the addition of rangers from Lolldaiga Hills in Kenya to the group life insurance policy, for the period 21 November 2022 to 12 June 2023; thereafter they will fit into the annual renewal timetable 
  • £8,130 raised by the 2022 ForRangers Ultra’s runners was awarded to the Mount Kenya Trust, towards the Joint Wildlife Protection Team’s salaries, rations, and operational costs during 2023
  • £4,050 raised by the ForRangers Ultra’s 2023 runners was sent to the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust, to be allocated towards equipment: 28 x tracksuits, Tshirts and pairs of trainers; 10 x sleeping bags and bedrolls; 4 x portable solar panels; and 6 x solar-powered spotlights 
  • We sent $817 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs for the cost of clearing the patrol medic kits into Nairobi
  • We sent $12,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation, together with $1,120 from our own core funds, for the APLRS’s Administrator, John Gitonga, to study for a 2-year part-time Master’s of Science in Data Science and Analytics (MSc DSA) at Strathmore University in Nairobi. This will not only be a critical step in sharpening John’s skills to undertake his work but will also make a great contribution in the conservation and management of Kenyan rhino. The funds will cover tuition fees, various documents / licences, and data collection, analysis and fieldwork expenses
  • We sent £8,100 from the proceeds of the 2022 ForRangers Ultra to the Taylor Ashe Anti-Venom Trust to replace its current ‘Ranger Line’ of black mamba enclosures with a fibreglass option. These are easier to keep clean, safer and do not have the maintenance and wear and tear issues associated with the wooden or metal cages
  • Another £4,275 raised by ForRangers Ultra 2023’s runners paid for the purchase of uniform and equipment items for Il Mamusi Mukogodo Forest Association’s 12 rangers and one security coordinator: Trousers, shirts, branded t-shirts, pairs of boots and socks, jackets, capes, pullovers, belts, lanyards and badges, and bedrolls. The pastoralist communities surrounding the Forest depend on forest products such as honey, herbs, firewood, water, pasture, and building materials, but it the Forest is threatened by vegetation loss, while the surrounding landscape is threatened by land degradation and resource extraction. Il Mamusi is scaling up afforestation, reforestation and landscape restoration by reseeding using semi-circular bunds; tree growing (both indigenous and fruit trees) in schools, offices, dispensaries and open glades inside the Forest; and strengthening the capacity of its management committee, community-land management committees and forest user groups. Rangers are a critical part of the this project as they help with daily monitoring and protection of this critical ecosystem and protection of the restoration projects
  • We awarded £12,760.32, raised by the ForRangers Ultra 2023, to the Local Ocean Trust’s Watamu Turtle Watch Project: $8,444 towards rangers’ salaries; $4,880 for equipment (including uniforms, smartphones, GPSs and a quadcopter drone; and $1,700 to enlarge the rangers’ accommodation base. The turtle Nest Monitors play a particularly vital role in overall sea turtle conservation, data collection and LOC’s campaign for the protection of natural beaches
  • $485 from INL paid for 51 Degrees’ trainer to write up course reports for rangers from Borana Conservancy following the Rhino Tactical Refresher course. These reports are tracked via EarthRanger, and show progress at unit and individual ranger levels, and help inform Conservancy Managers and HR departments of any issues that need addressing, or of individuals that merit promotion 
  • $25,000 from Susan Johns was awarded to help pay the cost of a 2-year ranger training programme across Lolldaiga, Ole Naishu, Mugie, Sosian and Suyian conservancies. It is hoped that, eventually, some of these will become rhino guardians, to expand the rhino range across the Laikipia landscape 

Borana Conservancy, Kenya

  • $19,260 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) through Project UPTICK paid for Borana’s rangers to undergo annual ‘Rhino Tactical Refresher Training’, delivered by 51 Degrees Ltd
  • $1,299.20 from INL paid for shared-asset training for Borana’s rangers during May 2022
  • $2,085.22 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for three of Borana’s senior National Police Reservists to undergo Commanders’ training during June 2022
  • $9,035.94 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for some of Borana’s senior National Police Reservists to undergo Commanders’ training during July 2022 and other rangers to do the Rhino Tactical Refresher course
  • $19,490.78 from INL for Borana’s rangers to undergo a rhino training exercise course in August 2022
  • $10,007.32 from INL via Project UPTICK was used to pay for more ranger training during September 2022: $7,447.20 for tactical refresher training; $1,390.84 for shared-asset training; and $1,169.28 for Senior Commanders’ training
  • $17,600 awarded by the Anna Merz Rhino Trust was sent to pay for the construction of an additional six-person accommodation block with bathrooms down at Ngare Ndare. The Zulu 4 team based out of Ngare Ndare, located on Borana’s boundary with Lewa and a haven for wildlife, currently has some extremely poor quality housing that is in the process of being dismantled and taken down. In a bid to improve on water and power provision, all staffing accommodation at Ngare Ndare is being consolidated in one location, which Borana hopes will make significant improvements. As well as housing the Zulu 4 team, two fence line monitors are also based at Ngare Ndare 
  • $7,500 (part of $61,500 USFWS grant for Y2) was sent to cover the rest of the costs at two ranger outposts (at Ngare Ndare and Arijuju) 
  • $21,000 from INL funds paid for 30 of Borana’s rangers to undergo the 10-day Rhino Tactical Refresher course in February 2023 
  • $12,756, donated by Chris Richardson’s family and great friends, was sent to build a ranger outpost at Arijiju in Chris’s memory 

Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya

  • We sent $4,698 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) via Project UPTICK for 3 refresher courses for KWS staff in national parks’ Ops Rooms on the use of EarthRangerTM, together with another $802 for subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ staff while training KWS staff
  • $4,831.40 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for user refresher training for KWS staff in national parks’ Ops Rooms on the use of EarthRangerTM, and another $416 covered subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ staff while training KWS staff
  • $2,482.40 from INL for Project UPTICK for user refresher training for KWS staff in Meru NP’s Ops Rooms on the use of EarthRangerTM
  • We sent $15,952.40 from INL for Project UPTICK: $14,894.40 for additional Tableau and user refresher training for KWS staff; and US $1,058 for subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ staff while training KWS staff
  • Another $3,480 from the INL grant paid for Management refresher training in the use of EarthRangerTM at three existing regional HQs (Coast, Northern and Western), while $1,209 covered subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ staff while training KWS staff in December 2022 
  • $3,480 from INL paid for Management refresher training in the use of EarthRangerTM at 3 x existing regional HQs (Mountain, Central and Southern Rift (Lake Nakuru), and $699 for subsistence and travel costs incurred by 51 Degrees’ staff while training KWS staff in January 2023
  • $5,338 from INL paid for KWS staff to be trained in the use of ER 

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

  • $15,536.40 from Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) paid for helicopter hours during ranger training courses (for staff from Ol Jogi, Borana and Lewa) held at Lewa during March 2022, through Project UPTICK
  • $8,184.96 from INL funds for ranger training: Advanced course for some of Lewa’s National Police Reservists (NPRs)
  • $1,299.20 from INL funds paid for shared-asset training for Lewa’s rangers during May 2022, via Project UPTICK
  • $2,780.29 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for four of Lewa’s senior National Police Reservists to undergo Commanders’ training during June 2022
  • $21,079.52 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for ranger training courses during July: Rhino Tactical Refresher and a Rhino Training Exercise
  • We sent $8,872.24 from INL’s grant for training Lewa’s rangers in September 2022: $6,702.48 for a rhino training exercise; $779.52 for Senior commanders’ training; and $1,390.84 for shared-asset training. Another $3,289.51 from INL paid for the purchase of fleeces and socks for Lewa’s rangers, with the remaining $479.92 coming from our core funds)
  • $30,713.92 (part of the Y2 grant of $89,483.92 from USFWS) was sent to pay for uniforms. Each of the 82 rangers (general security & rhino monitors) will receive: 2 x green shirts @ $20.36; 2 x green trousers @ $17.14; 1 x pair boots @ $183.75; 2 x green hat @ 5.27; 1 x belt @ $5.64; 1 x green jumper @ $30.71; 1 x green heavy padded jacket @ $42.12; & 5 x pairs socks @ $5.36. Total cost of uniform per ranger = $374.56 
  • £13,104.33 raised by the participants in the 2023 editions of the ForRangers Ultra was sent to buy sports gear for Lewa’s rangers: 150 x tracksuits and green T-shirts, and 150 pairs of sports shorts, trainers and shorts. These items will improve the experience of the rangers during training activities, helping them to remain motivated to take part in the various training sessions. The evidence of the rangers’ morale improvement will be evident from their general happiness, feedback, and performance during physical exercises

Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya

  • A grant of $25,000 from the ForRangers initiative was awarded to pay for a new canteen for Ol Jogi’s rangers, and for 10 ‘rhino dinners’, at which the rangers choose names for calves born during the previous 12 months. Any surplus will go towards buying a mobile water bowser that can be towed behind a 4WD to deliver water to ranger outposts
  • $24,450.48 from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) paid for a Rhino tactical refresher course for Ol Jogi’s NPRs, and one of the rangers was sent on an Advanced course held at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
  • $1,299.20 from INL paid for shared-asset training for Ol Jogi’s rangers during May 2022
  • $2,085.22 from INL via Project UPTICK paid for three of Ol Jogi’s senior National Police Reservists to undergo Commanders’ training during June 2022
  • $6,950.72 paid for some of Ol Jogi’s rangers to undergo Rhino Tactical Refresher training during July 2022, funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
  • $33,093 from INL’s grant was sent to pay for Ol Jogi’s rangers to participate in various training courses: $30,533.52 for the rhino training exercise; $1,169.28 for the Senior commanders’ training; and $1,390.20 for shared asset training during September 2022
  • $14,953.56 from the Y2 USFWS grant (totalling $80,453.56) was sent to pay for ration packs. 103 pax receive monthly rations of rice, sugar, red wairimu beans, tea leaves, cooking oil and wheat flour, and 64 security-focused rangers also receive monthly rations while deployed of army biscuits, corned beef, tinned pineapple and tinned githeri. Another $16,500 will pay for three rangers’ accommodation to be rebuilt during 2023 
  • We made a grant of $20,000 in total from the proceeds of the ForRangers Ultra 2023: $11,497.97 pay for uniforms for Ol Jogi’s rangers (64 x Camouflage shirts, 63 x camo trousers, 144 x jungle green shirts, 144 x jungle green trousers, 208 pairs of socks, 32 x sleeping bags, 32 x green tracksuits and 32 pairs of shoes); $2,845.53 to pay for ‘Rhino Dinners’ (events to celebrate the birth of a rhino on Ol Jogi, and act to incentivise and thank the rangers who protect and monitor the rhinos every day. The rangers propose names for the calves, which fosters a sense of pride and ownership); and $406.50 to pay for 10 x cross-fit training sessions with a coach. It is important for all the rangers to be physically fit and strong so that they can perform their duties well. They want to learn how to use the equipment properly to get the best out of what has been provided, as well as how to prevent injury. They would also like to be guided on what programmes are best for their optimal fitness and strength

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya 

  • $21,000 from INL funds was sent to reimburse Ol Pejeta for 30 of Ol Pejeta’s rangers to undergo the 10-day Rhino tactical refresher course in November 2022 
  • We sent $15,000 to Ol Pejeta Conservancy from the proceeds of the ForRangers Ultra 2013: $3,000 for rations for Ol Pejeta’s rangers, at $20 per month x 6 months x 25 rangers; and $12,000 for the construction of a three-room patrol base at the Ngobit River, to the west of Ewaso-Nyiro, an area of approximately 200km2. The completion of this housing will significantly improve Ol Pejeta’s monitoring capacity within that sector. The work will take approximately six months to complete. For all construction works, strict tender processes are followed to ensure best value is achieved. Ol Pejeta will seek external quotes for the construction of the three-room block, which will be compared against estimates prepared by Ol Pejeta’s own logistics department to carry out the work internally; the proposal deemed to offer the highest quality work at the best possible price will be selected

Save the Rhino Trust, Namibia

  • We sent £65 worth of 100 pin badges and 50 wrist bands, delivered by Darion & Jimmy during field site visit, to distribute to SRT’s own trackers and to the Rhino Rangers in the Kunene Region
  • $8,520.12 (part of the Y2 total grant of $95,480.12 from USFWS) was sent to pay for rations 
  • €2,000 from Zoo Krefeld was sent to pay for uniforms for the rhino trackers working in Nyae Nyae Conservancy 
  • £5,000 donated by the Rhino Trek Namibia team was sent to SRT to pay for upgrades to the bases at Maigoha! and Axab (mule camp) to improve ranger welfare 
  • Another £2,926, received in miscellaneous donations for SRT, was sent to help cover the costs of SRT’s 40th anniversary celebrations 

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia 

  • £1,657.54 from the Ania Wanda Wasilewski legacy paid for three Ministry staff to fly from Windhoek to Hoedspruit for a rhino security meeting at Skukuza in Kruger NP 

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

  • £7,125 from Colchester Zoo – Action for the Wild was sent to pay for Extended Patrol kit: camping equipment, patrol equipment and first aid kits, as well as power banks for charging phones, radios and torches
  • More funds from the total $81,926.98 Y2 grant from USFWS were sent to improve ranger welfare in HiP: $13,609.70 for uniforms: 130 x caps @ ZAR 140 & 130 camo overalls @ ZAR 1,370 = ZAR 1,510 / $104.69 per ranger; and $23,920.02 for refurbishment of ranger accommodation and ablutions blocks 
  • $12,469 (part of the $18,318 grant from the Anna Merz Rhino Trust) was sent to pay for 1,400 ration packs to be bought and distributed to HiP’s field rangers and two anti-poaching units 

uMkhuze Game Reserve, South Africa

  • We sent funds from a range of donors to pay for new lithium-ion batteries to replace the old deep-cycle ones used for solar-power systems in uMkhuze: £493.43 received in misc. donations via our website; €1,000 euros from Monde Sauvage Safari Parc; $1,850 raised by Shaini Hirawat via her “Aaryav Hirawat – Help me Save the Rhinos” campaign; $1,000 from The Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation; and £1,250 from West Midland Safari Park. The lithium-ion batteries are more expensive but are expected to last for c.10 years
  • We sent another $7,081 awarded by our sister organization, Save the Rhino International Inc. (part of a $9,899 grant) to help cover the cost of replacing deep-cycle batteries with lithium-ion batteries at ranger outposts
  • And we sent £5,000 received from the Betty Lawes Foundation towards the cost of 5kVa lithium-ion batteries for ranger camps @ ZAR 35,000 each plus ZAR 10,000 for installation. This is a critical need for the continued supply of power to remote field ranger camps, where the system was upgraded from an old, and now redundant, two-battery system to a state-of-the-art solar system that allows camps to run more efficiently on solar power and replace expensive LP gas systems. The initial system opted for the supply of 8 x 105 Ah deep-cycle batteries, since the lithium-ion batteries were too expensive for the funder at the time. However, these deep-cycle battery systems have a limited lifecycle of c. three years depending on the number of cycles, and they now need replacing. The proposed lithium-ion batteries are more expensive but have more capacity and a guarantee of 10 years, making them far more cost-effective
  • $12,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation was sent to pay for: 60 tactical overalls for law-enforcement staff; 60 pairs of strong canvas boots for law-enforcement staff; one biting sleeve for K9 training; and 20 solar-power banks
  • USFWS’s Y2 grant of $81,804.34 for uMkhuze Game Reserve helped pay to improve ranger welfare in the Reserve: $13,827.60 for rangers’ uniforms: 60 rangers, each of whom receive: 2 x camo Tshirts @ ZAR 150 / Tshirt; 2 x green shirts @ ZAR 245 / shirt; 2 x green trousers @ ZAR 285 / pair; 1 x green padded jacket @ ZAR 610; 1 x green beret @ ZAR 95; 1 x green balaclava @ ZAR 59; and 1 pair boots @ ZAR 1,200; $566.85 will pay for uniforms for the APU, each of whom receive 1 x softshell jacket @ ZAR 545 / $37.79; and $58,933.39 will pay for the maintenance and refurbishment of three ranger accommodation and ablution blocks (Nsumo, Mkhumbe and Mahlabeni picket camps and Corporal South’s accommodation), and for the maintenance and refurbishment of the Conservation Manager’s kitchen @ ZAR 50,000 

Rhino Resource Center, UK

  • We sent our annual grant of £1,000 from core funds towards the cost of the RRC’s website and uploading new rhino research publications. It is an excellent reference base, used by students, researchers and rhino conservation professionals alike

Rhino Fund Uganda

  • We awarded $13,000 from core funds to cover two months’ administrative costs for the RFU, while it rebrands, restructures, and develops a revised constitution and new Cooperation Agreement with Uganda Wildlife Authority, to enable RFU to create a new rhino sanctuary in Uganda

North Luangwa Conservation Programme, Zambia

  • We used $6,653.88 from a Wildcat Foundation grant to pay for hotel nights for North Luangwa’s London Marathon team who will be competing in October 2022. These overseas trips are an important part of NLCP’s ranger welfare and incentives programme, encouraging and supporting physical fitness and rewarding those who have performed exceptionally well
  • We spent $2,232.95 from Wildcat Foundation funds to pay for further hotel nights for the NLCP London Marathon 2022 team in October 2022
  • We spent another $4,254.66 from the Wildcat Foundation grant to pay for 2 x flights for NLCP staff to come to London to take part in LM22; their visas were only granted very late in the day. These costs were offset by a refund of $2,124.15 from the Residenz Marriott hotel for rooms not used by other members of the NLCP LM22 team after their visa applications were rejected
  • A $50,000 grant from Conservation Nation was sent for the project entitled “Breaking barriers to create female participation in natural resource management”, which will run from Dec 2022 to Nov 2023 inc. Specifically, this project seeks to increase female representation in the wildlife protection sector in North Luangwa by focusing on: Training for female staff and spouses ($20,000); Training for male staff and, where applicable, spouses ($20,000); Spousal visits to field program to increase understanding of spouses’ work ($2,000); and buy essential female-related equipment, kit and resources to cater to women’s needs in the field ($8,000) 

Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, Zimbabwe

  • We sent £1,430.46 raised by GCT’s London Marathon runners, to be allocated to capacity and team-building events in-country. A team of 4 rangers will compete in a 100km SkyRun in December 2022, with a supporting team that helps runners on the mountain during the event, and then they will stay on to do some leadership and skills training. GCT will use the funds for their subsistence and travel costs

Lowveld Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe

  • We sent $4,900 from the total grant of $25,000 from the Anna Merz Rhino Trust to purchase new uniforms for the 12 members of LRT’s rhino monitoring unit (includes patrol boots, trousers, shirts, overalls, jackets etc so that the men have adequate clothing to cope with the variation in temperatures they operate in), and another $8,250 for the Lowveld Rhino Law Enforcement Task Force’s accommodation and meals while away from the home station

Canine units, Africa

  • We paid $733.47 from a grant from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) to pay for airport transfers & transport to/from the venue for the detection and tracking demonstrations in Lusaka, during the K9 workshop in May 2022
  • We spent a total of $7,777,53 on international flights for 12 participants attending the K9 workshop in May 2022 in Lusaka, thanks to the INL grant
  • £65.22 worth of Save the Rhino T-shirts and pin badges were given out at the workshop held in Lusaka in May 2022. $9,402.64 from INL paid the balance for the venue costs (accommodation, food, conference facilities) for the K9 workshop. $3,082.41 from INL was paid to Natasha van Zyl: $2,880 for her consultancy fees to plan and deliver the workshop, and the remaining $202.41 for associated incidental expenses (stationery etc.). And finally we received a refund of $525.43 from a company that missed the pick-up for the transfer of participants back to Lusaka airport
  • We received a refund of $653.20 from Key Travel for a flight we had booked that no longer made the right connections and had to be rebooked; this was credited back to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which had originally paid for the flight

African Rhino Specialist Group, Africa

  • $4,470.26 (remaining funds from the Oak Philanthropy (UK) Limited grant for the 2019 meeting) was sent to help cover the consultancy fees of the AfRSG’s Scientific Officer, Sam Ferreira
  • We awarded €10,000 from core funds towards the work of the AfRSG Secretariat: €6,000 for the consultancy fees of Dr Sam Ferreira (Scientific Officer) and €4,000 for the consultancy fees of Keit Mosweu (Programme Officer)
  • $24,000 from the Y2 USFWS grant was sent to help cover the consultancy fees ($14,000) of the Scientific Officer (Dr Sam Ferreira) and ($10,000) Programme Officer (Keit Mosweu) 

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya

  • We awarded $1,300 from core funds to buy a replacement laptop for John Gitonga, the APLRS’s Administrator, whose old laptop died
  • $9,997.60 from USFWS’s Y2 (2023) grant was sent to pay the salary of the APLRS Administrator, John Gitonga 

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia

  • We used $1,021.17 from the Valerie G. Merrin 2006 Trust to pay for the printing of Namibia’s White Rhino and Black Rhino Species Management Plans
  • We made a series of payments from the last remaining funds from the Valerie G. Merrin 2006 Trust: $498.86 to pay for office equipment including a printer and ink, for the National Rhino Coordinator; and $252.66 to pay for stationery supplies for the Rhino Office at MEFT; another $571.70 came from another legacy received for Namibian rhinos from Ania Wanda Wasilewski
  • $5,453.48 from USFWS paid for a new Dell laptop, mouse and software for the National Rhino Coordinator

Lowveld Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe

  • We paid £39.60 for the final tweaks to the layout and design of the Rhino Management Strategy for Zimbabwe 2020-2024. 100 hard copies are being printed and shipped to Zimbabwe for onwards distribution

African Rhino Specialist Group, Africa

  • We paid $300 from core funds for the registration fee for the AfRSG’s Scientific Officer, Sam Ferreira, to attend and participate in the IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC), being held in July 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda. The AfRSG will be presenting a panel discussion entitled “Thriving people, thriving rhinos: Protected areas leveraging human and nature well-being”. Summary: Rhino conservation and benefits for people needs moving beyond sustainability as poaching degraded rhino status in the previous decade. Even so, rhinos under management other than pure-state performed best. It seems that devolving responsibility to local people may be a key requirement. At Laikipia in Kenya, planning aimed to foster a resilient socio-economic-ecological system conserved by an empowered civil society. Additional case studies elsewhere in Africa help set the context for reflection on the benefits of integrating conservation, human rights and responsibilities. A panel discussion focuses on key enabling requirements to meet the objective of thriving local people and rhinos. Another £270.90 from core funds paid for a return flight for Sam from Johannesburg to Kigali
  • Another $400 from core funds paid the registration fee for SRT’s CEO, Simson Uri-Khob, to attend and participate in APAC, and £632.70 from core funds paid for his return flights from Windhoek to Kigali
  • $812.30 from core funds to reimburse the AfRSG’s Scientific Officer, Sam Ferreira, for expenses incurred in attending APAC (accommodation and food, Covid-19 tests, and transport)
  • Finally, we sent $2,222.22 from Oak Philanthropy (UK) Limited to pay for catering costs associated with the AfRSG’s panel event at APAC

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya 

  • £7,023 raised by Charlie Dyer via his 736 km off-road bike ride from the Gundua Healthcentre near Kisima in the shadow of Mount Kenya to Vasco da Gama Point, Malindi, was sent to the Nanyuki Cottage Hospital. The funds, raised under the banner of the ForRangers initiative, will be used for capital and other expenditure in support of ’needy patients’ at the Cottage Hospital and Gundua health centre’ 

Borana Conservancy, Kenya

  • We sent grants from Molly Stewart (£1,000) and Spooner/Nelson (£2,000) for work in Mukugodo Forest, an area of community-owned forest that lies between Borana Conservancy and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and acts as an important wildlife corridor as well as providing ecosystem services for the community
  • We also sent £1,000 from Tara Ward in January 2022 for this year’s Days for Girls campaign, which aims to buy menstrual kits for girls in the villages neighbouring Borana so that they can continue to attend school uninterrupted
  • We sent $2,746.99 (from a larger grant awarded by our sister organization, Save the Rhino International Inc.) to reimburse consultant Richard Hennery for further costs relating to his visit to Borana in February: PCR test; internal transfers; and nine days’ consultancy fees for his input into the development of Borana’s new conservation education programme
  • £1,600 received from Tom and Alice Aubrey-Fletcher, and another £10 donated via our website, was sent to help pay for a teacher’s salary via the Borana Education Support Programme
  • We sent a grant of £16,000 received from the Rothes Charitable Trust for Lokusero Primary School, a boarding and day government school located in the Mukogodo Forest. The School is home to 370 students and 10 teachers, and current enrolment is from PP1 to Grade 8. Borana Conservancy has been supporting the School with the construction of classrooms, teachers’ salaries and student scholarships. In recent years, these standards have fallen behind, with significant investment going to the adjacent secondary school. Borana will address this by providing support in the form of fencing (to keep out shoats and elephants), water-storage tanks, rainwater-harvesting systems, an ablutions block and cooking stoves
  • $20,000 from Untamed Planet via WildArk, and another $10,000 from Illuminarium in partnership with WildArk, was sent to help cover the Year 1 costs of Mazingira Yetu. This Conservation Education Programme (CEP) has made incredible progress since 1 January 2022: a CE Officer and CE Assistant have been recruited, an Education Centre built, a special bus (the Mazingira Express) bought and adapted, and a curriculum developed with the assistance of consultant Richard Hennery and in consultation with local Headteachers and the Ministry of Education. The first group, from a local primary school, visited Borana on 29 July 2022
  • We sent £9,500 from the Golden Bottle Trust and another £3,000 from Venetia Leng to help cover the Y1 costs of Mazingira Yetu Y1 costs, specifically to help pay for the building of six en suite twin rooms for visiting academics, researchers or students taking short, intensive environmental management courses
  • We paid £577.50 from core funds to pay Alex Rhind for work on the logo for Mazingira Yetu
  • $2,752.53 from SRI Inc.’s grant and another 1,155.31 from core funds was sent to reimburse consultant Richard Hennery the costs relating to his visit to Borana in November (international airfaire and internal transfers, travel insurance, anti-malarials and EVisa) and 12 days’ consultancy fees for his input into the development of Borana’s new conservation education programme, Mazingira Yetu. Another £1,000 from an anonymous donor was also sent to help cover Mazingira Yetu’s Year 1 costs
  • We received a couple of donations for Lokuseru Primary School, one of the 10 primary schools neighbouring Borana Conservancy: £5,000 from Andrew Caldecott KC, and £2,500 from the Prism Charitable Trust specifically to help construct an elephant-proof fence around Lokuseru Primary School
  • A repeat, and very generous, grant of £10,000 from the CHK Foundation for the operating costs of Borana’s Mobile Health Clinic was supplemented by a further £500 from Hugo Straker for Borana’s Mobile Health Clinic. Finally £22.37 received in misc. donations via a justgiving.com page was allocated to Borana’s ‘Days for Girls’ campaign , which provides sanitary products for girls so that they do not have to miss school
  • $500 from core funds was awarded to pay Richard Hennery for two days’ consultancy regarding Mazingira Yetu during November and December 2022 
  • £10,000 from Pam Collibee and Ian Wilson was sent to support Borana’s Mobile Health Clinic and the Days for Girls initiative (£5,000), and via Borana to Ethi Primary School for IT equipment (£5,000) 
  • €15,381.82 from the Stichting Suzuki Rhino Club was donated to cover the remaining costs of Mazingira Yetu during Y1 (2022), i.e. the rest of the cost of the en suite accommodation for academics and researchers visiting the education centre 
  • We sent $31,186 received from Wild Philanthropy to pay for the elephant fence round Lokusero Primary School. Given the location of the School within the forest, there is a pressing need for an electric fence in order to keep elephants and other wildlife out of the School compound, and thus keep the students and teachers safe. The beneficiary community around the School are Maasai pastoralists, with an average population of approximately 230 households. The fence length will be approximately 1.6km, and the total project will cost $33,836.The works will take place in the period January to May 2023. Once this fence has been built, Borana would like to establish a permaculture project at the School, providing fresh fruit and vegetables to the School kitchens: this will be phase 3 and is an extremely exciting project. However, in order for this to happen, the water storage systems and most importantly electric fence must be put in place first
  • £3,000 from the Rothes Charitable Trust was sent to pay for food for the pupils at Lokusero and Ol Kinyei schools, adjacent to Borana Conservancy. The war in Ukraine has led to food poverty in Laikipia, which is heavily reliant on grain imports that are then fortified with nutrients to maintain basic health. The funds will pay for maize, beans, cooking oil and salt, and will be sufficient to feed the children until the end of term at Easter 
  • And finally, we sent £450 for Mazingira Yetu Y2 costs (2023): £200 from Zillah Jordan, and £250 recd from Adam and Diana Wethered 

Lowveld Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe 

  • £387.47 from core funds, together with another £372.53 from restricted donations via our website, was sent to help cover the cost of maintaining and updating LRT’s website, from June 2021 to December 2022 
  • We sent £23.98 from core funds to pay for the renewal of the Lowveld Rhino Trust’s website domain name for one year

Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries, Kenya

  • We sent US $800,000 towards the AgWild project in Laikipia, Kenya. AgWild was established in February 2021 as a company with the fundamental objective of preserving and enhancing the ecosystem integrity of the Laikipia landscape through enabling an economically, ecologically and social sustainable land use model. AgWild was created by four founder Members (Ol Maisor Ranch, Sosian Ranch, Suyian and Mugie Conservancy). Since incorporation, an additional four Members have joined (Borana Conservancy, Lolldaiga Conservancy, Mogwooni Ranch and Kifuku Ranch) bringing the total number of Members to eight. This grant, enabled by an anonymous donor via the ForRangers initiative, will be used to create: an efficient, direct route to market for livestock produced on AgWild Member properties with integrated logistics, high animal welfare standards and high standards of management, reporting and accountability throughout the chain; the ability to add value through processing and therefore offer better pricing to AgWild Members and community livestock owners engaged in the trading scheme; the development and launch of a new marketing and branding strategy for AgWild producers, with an emphasis on promoting Laikipia and the unique attributes of conservation, sustainability and quality to the marketplace; and, ultimately, increased employment and revenue generation linked to conservation land use, driving improvements in the economic sustainability of large scale private and community-led conservation efforts in the region.

As always, our thanks to all the donors who made these grants possible.