Rhino ranger protection expands dramatically

By Jeff Muntifering Photograph: The Little Swiss as photographed by a Rhino Ranger team

During the past few months after our successful mid-term training workshop, news has spread about the Rhino Ranger program.  We are very excited to announce that one additional conservancy, Orupembe, has formally joined the program, and 3 other conservancies have made informal requests to participate.  These new additions would boost our Rhino Ranger family to include 13 communal conservancies supporting 26 community rhino rangers covering 100% of Namibia’s northwest rhino population.  Joint patrols with the Support Group training teams have proceeded and the photos from new Rhino Ranger teams using their new ultra-zoom digital cameras continue to improve (see photo).  Next on the agenda is a full term evaluation workshop to polish their basic rhino monitoring skills, receive their achievement certificates, and present a completely new rhino conservation tourism training course.  They will also be receiving bedrolls and winter parkas to add to their rhino field kit.