Why a Rhino Adoption makes a great gift

Here are some reasons why you should give the gift of a rhino adoption:

• It’s the gift that keeps on giving.  Adoptions last all year during which time the adopter will receive regular updates about the rhino so that they can really feel part of the animal’s life
• It’s money well spent. You will know your money is actually paying for something useful
• It is eco-friendly.  Not only are you helping with important conservation projects, this gift requires no packaging or delivery so is great for the environment
• It makes a great last-minute gift. Adoptions make great last minute gifts, even if you place an order really late.  All you need to do is print or email a certificate and you’re done!
• It’s a great gift throughout the year. They make gifts all year round, for birthdays or anniversaries or other special occasions
• It helps to spread the word.  It’s so important to continue to raise awareness of rhino conservation and by gifting an adoption you are helping to spread the message to your friends and family
• It helps people as well as animals.  As well as helping to keep rhinos safe in their natural habitat, an adoption or sponsorship gift also helps people in local communities to gain employment and better opportunities 

Adopt a rhino orphan

With the unprecedented increase in poaching of rhino in the last decade we have seen a huge rise in the number of calves left orphaned as a result of attacks on their mothers. Sometimes the little rhino baby is left grieving over the loss of its mother, but on many occasions, the calf is also badly injured. 

The Zululand Rhino Orphanage is the only dedicated rhino orphanage in Kwazulu-Natal and is operated by a dedicated team who provide 24- hour care to all the rhino and hippo orphans.

• The money from the adoption goes directly to:
• Providing milk and food for the orphans
• Providing essential medication for the orphans
• Provision of security at the orphanage to prevent attacks from poachers
• Provision of maintenance and improvements of the rhino orphanage facilities

Adopt a Rhino Orphan

Adopt a northern white rhino

After the death of northern white rhino Sudan in 2018, the northern white rhino is now functionally extinct.  The last two females, Najin and Fatu reside together at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, safely in the care of 24- hour armed protection.

You can help care for the last two northern white rhinos by adopting them or adopt in memory of Sudan’s legacy by supporting the scientific research, looking into using IVF as a way to reproduce a northern white rhino calf.  The support from adopters has meant that the step towards this is much closer.  

On 22nd August 2019, a team of veterinarians successfully harvested eggs from the two females, Najin and Fatu at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. This procedure has never been attempted in northern white rhino before.

Following the harvesting of the eggs from Najin and Fatu and the artificial insemination of the eggs, two northern white rhino embryos have been successfully created. Both embryos were created from eggs harvested from Fatu.

The embryos are now stored in liquid nitrogen to be transferred into a surrogate white rhino mother in the near future.

When you adopt a northern white rhino, you will be helping with:

• Honouring Sudan’s legacy and continuing the scientific research being carried out to create future northern white rhino calves using in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
• Providing 24/7 armed protection of the two remaining Northern White Rhinos in the world
• Providing supplementary feed to maintain a healthy diet
• Creating a safe and natural habitat for the rhinos on Ol Pejeta

Adopt a Northern White Rhino

Sponsor a Black Mamba

The Black Mambas are South Africa’s first all-female anti-poaching unit, operating on reserves near the western border of the Kruger National Park.

The Black Mambas are the first line of defence, undertaking arduous foot patrols on a daily basis.  They have achieved a formidable 63% reduction of poaching incidents in their area of operation since being formed. 

They are the eyes and the ears on the ground.  Their work is vital.  On daily patrols, they will often find holes in perimeter fences or snares or empty campsites, all of which are signs of poachers.  These regular patrols mean that any breaches or suspicious activity can be stamped out early on. 

With their Bush Babies programme, the Black Mambas also play a vital role in the community, raising awareness n villages surrounding rhino habitats.

When you sponsor a Black Mamba, you will be helping with

• Keeping the Black Mambas operational and on anti-poaching duty every single day of the year
• Facilitating their expansion into a larger area to protect more wildlife
• Educating local children on the importance of wildlife conservation
• Playing a role on the front line of anti-poaching

Sponsor a Black Mamba

Adopt Thandi and her Family

On 2nd March 2012, rhino poachers targeted Kariega Game Reserve, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Thandi (meaning love) was one of three rhinos attacked that night, and the only survivor.  Her recovery, although long and at many times undoubtedly painful, was nothing short of a miracle.  Even more incredibly, Thandi has since had three calves - Thembi, Colin and Mthetho (born in April 2019).

Thandi became the first rhino to ever survive a poaching attack. Her story spread around the world and has inspired many people to get involved in rhino conservation.

When you adopt Thandi and family, you will be helping with:

• The roll out of conservation education programmes in the area surrounding Kariega Game Reserve (run by the Kariega Foundation)
• Keeping the Kariega anti-poaching unit up and running, to ensure that all rhinos are safe within their area of operation.  What happened to Thandi should never happen again

Thandi's third 'miracle baby', Mthetho is living proof that every rhino matters. We are confident that Mthetho will grow up to be as strong as her mum and will now doubt prove to be just as a great a mother as Thandi has proved to be.

Adopt an anti-poaching unit (APU) dog

Dogs are brilliant trackers. They have tremendous stamina, a great sense of smell, and are extremely fast. They can alert rangers to the presence of a poacher up to a kilometre away.

With dogs helping them, anti-poaching teams are now much better equipped to track at night and can cover greater ground. There is no technology that works better than our canine friends.

At Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, APU dogs Diego, Scarf and Otis work alongside their handlers to help protect wildlife on the conservancy.  Since Ol Pejeta introduced their dog patrols, they have had had NO poaching incidents in the eighteen months – an impressive statistic that must continue.

The money from the APD dog adoption goes directly to:

• Food and shelter for your chosen dog
• Their intensive preparation and operational training with their handler
• Protecting one of the most important rhino conservancies in East Africa from poachers

Adopt an APU Dog