Rhino Monitoring, Botswana
2024 - Support the Rhino Monitoring in Botswana - Donation of USD 10'000
The patrolling and monitoring continue as the priority for the rhino monitoring teams. The teams continue to develop and grow to ensure the long-term protection of this critical species. Several new calves, both males and females, were welcomed. Every calf born wild is hope for this species and confirmation of the strategies in place to protect them.
Summary of 2024
- 11'820 hours patrolled (foot, boat & aerial)
- 39'110 kms patrolled (foot, boat & aerial)
- Investment in professional development and training leading to the promotions of Rhino Monitors Onkgopotse Maboga, Tumelo Mojapane and Kauandovi Tjipumba into leadership positions
- Zero rhino poaching incidents
- Several new calves born, both males and females
Boat patrols were re-established in 2024. In times when the water levels are high, some areas are hard to get to and only reachable by boat or by helicopter.
Expenditure
Drawing enthusiasm from the Botswana Olympic gold medalist Letsile Tebogo, both the Rhino Monitors and the Female Rangers continued work hard in their fitness program. The knock-on effects of the fitness program in terms of confidence and team cohesion and morale have been a wonderful to see. On the 21st of September, the ranger team ran in solidarity with rangers around the world for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge. Representatives from both the Rhino Monitoring and Female Ranger teams also took part in the Great Plains Foundation community sports tournament ‘Conservation Goals’ where they engaged 200 youth from the communities in the Okavango Delta pan-handle in conservation discussions.
More success stories related to this project
Our partner
Dereck & Beverly Joubert - Great Plains Foundation
Dereck and Beverly Joubert are globally recognized, award-winning filmmakers, conservationists, and National Geographic explorers-in-large based in Botswana. Their mission for more than 30 years has been the conservation of key wildlife species, with a focus on large predators. They are the owners of Great Plains Conservation, which operates some of the most beautiful camps in Botswana and Kenya. Through the Great Plains Foundation, various nature conservation projects are driven forward.
The Jouberts have published 12 books, produced 30 films for National Geographic, and written half a dozen scientific papers as well as many articles for National Geographic magazine. They have received 8 Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, a Grand Teton Award, multiple Golden Panda Awards, a World Ecology Award (along with Britain’s Prince Charles, Sylvia Earle, and paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey), and a Presidential Order of Merit awarded by Botswana’s ex-president, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, for their conservation work.
The Jouberts’ films have received widespread attention and have been viewed by millions of people. Films like «Eternal Enemies», «The Last Lions», «Soul of the Elephant» and their masterpiece «Eye of the Leopard» are known world-wide. For more information, please visit their website
www.wildlifefilms.co
All of Dereck & Beverly's work has one goal: to save the wild areas of Africa and protect the wildlife that depends on them. The President of Botswana described them aptly when he said, "Theirs is a life long passion; for each other, for big cats, for Africa...they are true "children of Africa."
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