ACT Rhino Fund by African Conservation Trust

More than 8,000 rhino have been lost to poaching in the last 10 years, motivated by the greed of globally-controlled criminal poaching syndicates, many of whom have links to international terrorist groups. The threats to brave South African rangers and anti-poaching units grow daily: they need support – now.

In May 2011 as the rhino poaching crisis escalated, ACT established the ACT Rhino Fund, a funding and programme implementation initiative dedicated to assisting the conservation sector’s efforts to protect South Africa’s White and Black rhino populations.

100% of funds donated through the ACT Rhino Fund go to bona-fide rhino conservation and anti-poaching efforts of reputable NGOs, game reserves and state conservation agencies.

To date, the ACT Rhino Fund has generated support of more than R10 million in cash and kind from South African citizens, businesses, charitable foundations, schools, shopping centres, the tourism and adventure sports sectors. R3.4million of this came from Skydive for Rhinos – ACT’s rhino fundraising and awareness campaign in 2011 and 2012.

In 2013 Skydive for Rhinos morphed into a broader campaign called ACT for Rhinos, which continues to raise funds for anti-poaching initiatives in KwaZulu-Natal. The ACT Rhino Fund has been instrumental in the implementation of innovative anti-poaching initiatives and the development of strategic partnerships. These include:

The founding of the Project Rhino association in September 2011, for which ACT provides the co-ordination & secretariat duties (including administration & financial management)
The establishment of the Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing, a public-private partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife that provides aerial surveillance to 26 game reserves in northern KZN
Supporting the roll out of Rhino Art – Let the Children’s Voices be Heard project lead by celebrity explorer Kingsley Holgate

The work of the ACT Rhino Fund was recognised by the 2012 Rhino Conservation Awards, as one of the 10 Best NGO efforts against rhino poaching in South Africa.

DONATE TO THE ACT RHINO FUND
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ACT’s Non-Profit Details:
Not-for-Profit Trust No: IT 2174/2000/PMB
South African Registered Non-Profit Organisation No: NPO 030-243
SARS Public Benefit Organisation No: 930014758 (tax exempt, Section 18A)

The African Conservation Trust's tax exemption status means we can provide Donations Certificates upon request.

Five anti-poaching strategies are the main beneficiaries:

Resources for game reserves & anti-poaching units (APU): from basic (i.e. camping equipment), to advanced (i.e. thermal imaging), and high tech (i.e. GPS rhino horn tracking units);
Aerial surveillance: this is a proven additional tool that is of great benefit to rangers and teams on the ground, and can assist large populations of rhino across several game reserves. Our funding support includes: aircraft operations, ground-to-air radios to assist reserves communicate with aerial patrols and coordinating the involvement of all important and affected stakeholders;
Skills training: funding training for rangers & APUs. With increasing sophistication of poaching syndicates, rangers and APUs need additional skills training e.g. paramilitary techniques & crime scene investigation;
Community engagement: unemployment, poverty and food insecurity often drive people to join poaching syndicates; educational and income generation projects in communities bordering game reserves improve relationships and helps identifiy those involved in poaching syndicates. A strong focus of our funding is on educating children of the importance of conserving rhino and other endangered species, using art and soccer;
Strategic skills & expertise: supporting the conservation community improve its ability to work effectively against poaching syndicates

To follow our progress, join the ACT Rhino Fund on Facebook

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