For over 250 years, rhinos were declared regionally extinct in the Western Cape, with their populations tragically decimated by colonial hunters during the early 1800s. However, the team behind Aquila Private Game Reserve and the Saving Private Rhino (SPR) initiative set out to restore their historic range across Southern Africa and reintroduce rhinos back to the Western Cape.
The Western Cape’s First Rhino
Following the introduction of the first wild southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) in the Western Cape, in 1999, the ongoing conservation work, veld regeneration projects, and wildlife rescue initiatives have successfully created a balanced ecosystem for rhinos to live once more, just outside of Cape Town.
In February 2005, Aquila Private Game Reserve celebrated a momentous occasion with the birth of the first rhino calf in the Western Cape, marking a pivotal milestone in the region’s conservation history and a significant achievement for rhino conservation across South Africa.
Aquila, in partnership with the Animal Rescue Centre (ARC) and Saving Private Rhino (SPR), has since witnessed the hopeful births of many more rhinos in the Western Cape. However, not only is Aquila dedicated to establishing a natural and thriving environment for rhinos close to Cape Town, but the reserve’s anti-poaching teams and wildlife rescue units are continuously helping to rehabilitate and rescue injured or orphaned rhinos, providing them with a new and safe home within numerous protected conservancies and private game reserves across the Western Cape.
The Saving Private Rhino Initiative
The Saving Private Rhino (SPR) initiative was established by Aquila Game Reserve with the primary goal of ensuring the survival of Africa’s rhino and wildlife heritage. SPR offers the most comprehensive and integrated anti-poaching solution available, provided free of charge to private game reserves across Africa that need assistance in protecting their wildlife. Funded by Aquila, public contributions, and crucial donations, SPR focuses on training, educating, and equipping reserve staff to better protect and monitor rhinos.
Since its inception, SPR has expanded its efforts to include education, rhino rehabilitation, and rapid rhino response for private game reserves facing imminent poaching threats. Central to these efforts is the Aquila Animal Rescue Centre (ARC), which was founded alongside SPR to help rescue, protect, and conserve wildlife in the Western Cape.
The rescue centre is strategically located at the base where anti-poaching courses are conducted, serving as both a training ground and a powerful deterrent to potential poachers. The center also provides access to highly skilled ex-military and police personnel, firearms and anti-poaching instructors, and K9 anti-poaching dog handling experts who oversee the K9 breeding center.
Also Read: Aquila’s Rhino Conservation Milestones
On the Frontlines Against Rhino Poaching
The Saving Private Rhino initiative has recognised the need for a comprehensive approach to rhino conservation, extending its efforts to encompass public and private sector collaboration. As of recent years, 53% of South Africa’s rhino population is safeguarded under private protection, thanks to the collaboration between public and private sectors.
The Saving Private Rhino initiative’s award-winning conservation efforts encompass providing free anti-poaching training courses to game reserves throughout South Africa. The rescue centre, which forms a large component of our rehabilitation and conservation initiatives, is strategically situated at the base where the anti-poaching courses are conducted–which acts as a powerful deterrent to potential poachers.
This location also guarantees access to highly skilled ex-military and police personnel, firearm and anti-poaching instructors, as well as K9 anti-poaching dog handling instructors overseeing our K9 breeding centre.
Also Read: Private Game Reserve’s now conserve more than half of South Africa’s rhinos
Rhino Conservation in South Africa: A Battle Against Extinction
South Africa is home to approximately 80% of the world’s rhino population, making it a critical battleground in the fight against rhino poaching. Over the past decade, poaching has taken a devastating toll on rhino numbers, with over 7,000 rhinos killed for their horns between 2010 and 2020.
In 2023, 499 rhinos were poached in South Africa, with over 307 recorded attacks being isolated to Kwa-Zulu Natal. However, efforts like the Saving Private Rhino initiative have been instrumental in turning the tide.
Despite these efforts, the fight is far from over. The ongoing threat of poaching and habitat loss means that continued vigilance and support for conservation initiatives like SPR are essential to ensuring that rhinos not only survive but thrive in the wild for generations to come.
