Rhino poaching war is fast gaining momentum

Date: 06 November 2015 By: Isabel Venter

The war on poachers, especially rhino poachers, is gaining momentum right here in Limpopo.

Private rhino owners, who own at least a sixth of South Africa’s herds, pooled their resources by starting the Limpopo Rhino Security Group (LRSG). As yet, the group is still small, but as the saying goes: Dynamite comes in small packages, or in the group’s case, a yellow-and-green Bat micro-light aircraft.

LRSG’s “soldiers” are currently on the front line, fighting poachers face to face, risking their lives and families to protect rhinos all across the Limpopo Province. Apart from the foot soldiers on the ground, the group also keeps a watchful eye from above in their micro-light aircraft.

The Zoutpansberger had the rare opportunity to have a secret face-to-face meeting with an LRSG-pilot and discover firsthand the work being done to protect the rhino. Due to the high risk surrounding their work, the group requested that no names be published. The high levels of security and secrecy are not only to protect the company, but also the lives of their volunteers, as well as the LRSG rhino owners.

In recent years, the onslaught on South Africa’s rhino populations has taken a turn for the worse. So much so that rhino owners are reluctant to even divulge information on a rhino that was killed on their farm out of fear of further attacks. “You know, apart from losing the rhino forever, we are already facing a severely dwindling rhino gene pool,” explained the LRSG-pilot, Tim (not his real name).

Needless to say, Tim got involved with the LRSG not only because of his absolute passion for conservation, but also because he could not sit back and watch the whole situation go to pot. Tim explains that while the government is going through the motions of politics, not enough is being done to protect both the owner and the rhino. “Rhino owners have no choice but to find a different approach. Some can’t afford it and simply sell all their rhinos,” said Tim.

The British News Group Sky News recently reported on the efforts made by the government to curb rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park (KNP). According to their figures, the number of rhinos poached was up by nearly 30% by mid-October of this year.

As far as the Zoutpansberger was able to determine, only one privately owned rhino was poached locally during October. The success can largely be contributed to the LRSG. Praise is also high for the efforts of the local dog masters, stationed here in Louis Trichardt at the Makhado SAPS. Musina’s stock theft unit and the Rhino Task Team also received acknowledgement for their continued effort.

The LRSG was started by a group of committed rhino owners in November of 2014. Since then, they have had a reported 82% drop in rhino poaching cases. “Farmers here in the Soutpansberg also reported a drop in normal poaching,” said Tim. A recent example where LRSG played an active role can be found where a would-be rhino poacher was caught and sentenced to several years behind bars. (See article on p. xx).

“The LRSG's success is due to the close relationship that the members have with local authorities, the South African Police, local communities, rhino specialists and rhino security companies,” Tim added. Intelligence information is shared almost immediately with all the relevant people and they react on it quickly.

Farmers, rhino owners, or anybody who wishes to get involved or donate to the LRSG’s cause can contact them via their website by logging on to www.lrsg.co.za. The LRSG is a fully registered and legal non-profit organisation and SARS approved. They are currently in the process of installing bulletproof gear on their aircraft. Tim also confirmed that they are looking into to the possibility of acquiring three more aircraft, and that he is training pilots to command them. 

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

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