Wilderness rhino protection initiative in Namibia

In 2022, SRT’s CRR Incentive Programme expanded into the Nyae Nyae Conservancy in the north-east of the country, and home to the Ju/’hoansi San community. It is bordered by Botswana to the east and the Khaudum National Park to the north, where the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), with support from WWF Namibia, plans to expand black rhino rangeland.

 

“The WWF Namibia funding complements other support that they have secured for the MEFT to prepare for the black rhino range expansion efforts”, said Dr Pauline Lindeque, WWF Namibia’s Wildlife and Landscapes Programme Director.

 

This significant expansion has allowed SRT to not only commence operations in a different landscape, but also increase their rhino observation area. Furthermore, Nyae Nyae will be the only Namibian conservancy to host both black and white rhinos in the future.

 

“The Nyae Nyae expansion project is positive in several ways. The request from MEFT to replicate our rhino ranger programme is a nod to SRT’s success in Kunene over the last four decades. New jobs linked to conservation have already been created at Nyae Nyae, with more to come. Finally, the expansion of rhino range will have a tremendous positive effect for these Critically Endangered rhinos”, said Andrew Malherbe, SRT COO.

 

SRT’s planned activities for the conservancy include initiating the use of a SMART (Spatial Mapping and Reporting Tool) database, alongside training and equipping Rhino Rangers appointed by Nyae Nyae. Recent SRT training included exchange visits to Kunene in north-west Namibia, exposing the new rangers to SRT monitoring methodology, data collection and patrols.