South Africa’s privately owned Platinum Rhino breeding and conservation project, the largest in the world, will be auctioned in mid-April.
The project has been operating since 2009 and currently protects close to 2,000 southern white rhinos in an 8,500-hectare savannah landscape.
conscience
Project founder John Hume said the ideal buyer would be a person or foundation with a passion for rhino conservation and the means to keep the breeding project moving forward.
The project was established to ensure the survival of a genetically diverse rhino population, which is currently the same as the white rhino population in the Kruger National Park.
200 rhinos are born a year
Because of its breeding success, it has the greatest ability to save the species from extinction. With 200 rhinos born a year, the project has the power to make a significant difference and increase the dwindling rhino population on the African continent.
The project’s wildlife vet, Dr Michelle Otto, said: “We have a lot of power here.” “The project’s rhinos can repopulate across Africa, where we lose hundreds of rhinos every year to poaching.
“We have a rewilding partner on board, but the project needs funding and the right people to keep driving it in the right direction.”
This project has the basis and potential to continue the current success in rhino conservation by providing rhinos for rewinding projects and range expansion, as well as contributing breeding animals to rebuild and/or re-enforce other rhino populations, far into future areas.
READ MORE: New research reveals terrifying white rhinos
Home to over 16% of the population in SA
Platinum Rhino, which houses more than 16% of South Africa’s southern white rhino population, announced last year it could release 100 rhinos back into the wild each year.
The Platinum Rhino team has engaged with conservation stakeholders around the world on this initiative, but has been unable to secure funding to do so.
The resident rhino population has also been recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature African Rhino Specialist Group as a Key 1 population, which is important for the conservation of SA’s rhino population.
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A total of 448 rhinos were poached in South Africa in 2022, slightly down from the 2021 figure of 451. Rare poaching in the Platinum Rhino project.
Since its inception in 2009, more than 9,700 rhinos have been poached elsewhere in South Africa. During that time, only 32 rhinos in the project were lost to poaching.
The last poaching incident occurred in March 2017. Maintaining the breeding program is important to ensure not only the survival of the animals, but also the continued livelihood of the people supported by the project.
Platinum Rhino employs 100 people, each of whom provides for another four people on average. That represents a community of about 500 people who rely on the project for their livelihood.
Also read: Anti-poaching efforts pay off
– news@citizen.co.za