This document discusses rhino poaching in South Africa and a tour offered by Steppes that aims to help rhino conservation efforts. The tour involves visiting conservation projects, game reserves, and participating directly in rhino monitoring and protection activities, including assisting with darting and tagging a rhino. This hands-on experience helps fund vital conservation work and educates tourists on the threats facing rhinos and efforts to prevent their extinction by 2025 due to poaching for their horns.

1. SOUTH AFRICA
ILLONA CROSS | STEPPES BEYOND
The Rhino

2. • RHINO HORN IS PERCEIVED TO HAVE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
• MORE PEOPLE CAN NOW AFFORD IT
• COMMUNICATION INTO RURAL AREAS IS GOOD SO POACHERS CAN AVOID BEING CAUGHT
What are the issues?

3. The result.

4. Why should you care?
• PREDICTIONS ARE THAT RHINO WILL BE EXTINCT BY 2025
• LOSS OF KNOWLEDGE, DNA, SPECIES DIVERSITY AND INTRICATE PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM
• ELEVATING THE RHINO TO THE STATUS OF MYTH – UP THERE WITH THE DODO

5. STEPPES OFFERS A TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA WITH AN EMPHASIS ON EXPLORATION,
WILDERNESS, EDUCATION AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL , THERE IS A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON
THE PROTECTION OF RHINO. A HANDS ON APPROACH .
Steppes can make a difference

6. • FLYING OVERNIGHT TO JOHANNESBURG THEN DRIVING TO GREATER KRUGER PARK
South Africa

7. Visits to various projects around the Kruger Park
DAY AND NIGHT SAFARI – TO SEE ANIMALS IN THE WILD LOCAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS – PLIGHT OF THE SMALLER SPECIES
THE REPTILE CENTRE – HOW THE LITTLE GUYS FIT IN THE MOHOLOHOLO RESCUE CENTRE - LEARNING CLOSE UP

8. ONE OF THE MORNINGS ON THE RHINO CONSERVATION TOUR OFFERS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PAY FOR AND BE INVOLVED IN THE CAPTURE, MARKING AND
RESEARCH OF RHINO
The exciting day arrives

9. It is early morning with walk up before dawn. The team
is waiting and the vet allocates tasks and explains the
process.
The vet offers explanations and hands out tasks

10. The helicopter arrives and the team follow the rhino to dart
it

12. EVERYONE HAS A TASK THAT IS HANDS ON AND VITAL TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE DARTING
The darted rhino

13. • A CHIP IS PLACED IN THE HORN AND UNDER THE SKIN
• OINTMENT IS PLACED IN THE EYES
• DNA SAMPLES ARE TAKEN
Can’t get any more hands on than this

14. • ONLY AN IDENTIFIABLE RHINO CAN BE IDENTIFIED
• THESE NOTCHES ALLOW ALL RANGERS TO IDENTIFY THE ANIMAL IN THE BUSH
WHILST ON PATROL
The ears are “notched”

15. REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE OR EDUCATION, EACH RANGER CAN
COMPLETE THE FORM BY COMPLETING THE DIAGRAMS AND THIS WILL
BE MATCHED WITH THE MASTER-LIST.
Monitoring rhino in the field

16. The antidote is administered and the rhino gains
consciousness
No harm done

18. EACH STEPPES CLIENT PAYS PART OF THE ENTIRE COST OF DARTING A RHINO – THE VET FEES, THE
HELICOPTER AND FUEL AND THE RANGER STAFF ON THE GROUND.
IF THE CLIENT WAS NOT THERE, THIS RHINO WOULD NOT BE DARTED – THE COST £2,400 PER DARTING.
Happy vet, happy clients