On September 22, wildlife lovers worldwide join in solidarity to mark World Rhino Day! Morukuru Family is allied with conservation organisations and individuals to pledge our commitment to rhino protection. After more than a decade of relentless poaching and habitat degradation and loss, our fears are confirmed. The global rhino numbers are still declining.
World Rhino Day advocates for the protection of all five species of Rhino. These are The Sumatran rhino (Sumatra and Borneo), Javan rhino (Indonesia), Greater one-horned rhino (India and Nepal, Black rhino (Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, eSwatini, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi) and the White rhino (South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, eSwatini, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda).
World Rhino Day was established in response to the rhino poaching crisis. Rhinos have been constantly under threat since the poaching emergency began in 2008. However, despite rangers working round-the-clock in extremely dangerous situations to try and keep rhinos safe; rhinos are still vulnerable. Today the numbers of black rhinos and Greater one-horned rhinos have increased. But the massive drop in the white rhino population has brought down the global total. And numbers of Javan and Sumatran rhinos in Indonesia remain critically low.
Our Morukuru Goodwill Foundation (MGWF) invests substantially in combating rhino poaching within the Madikwe Game Reserve by supporting and assisting with many vital initiatives. For example, all rhinos in the park are notched, which gives each animal an identity. Notching involves marking the rhino ears and inserting a chip into the horn, which allows conservationists to record information about individual animals such as territory, age and birth rate. In addition, DNA samples are taken and recorded during the notching operation, which can be used as evidence in criminal proceedings of rhino poaching.
If you are looking for an incredible adventure as well as the chance to make a real impact, then a luxury safari holiday offering wildlife conservation and interaction with local communities should be on your bucket list. The owners of Morukuru Family established the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation (MGWF) back in 2007. The MGWF aims to support conservation in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve and spearhead various community initiatives in the adjacent Molatedi village. We’ve christened our commitment to both of these strategies Safari with a Purpose.
Guests at Morukuru Family Madikwe have the unique opportunity of making a personal contribution to the war against rhino poaching by sponsoring a rhino notching operation and joining the rangers on their conservation missions. Guests can join a team of conservation professionals and get up close to endangered animals. MGWF is specifically interested in rhino conservation but also assists with other conservation efforts such as elephant collaring, cheetah collaring, lion collaring/contraception and wild dog collaring.
Supporting the anti-poaching teams is crucial, and funds from the MGWF, as well as generous donations from guests, go towards helping these teams with training and essential equipment. Rhino poachers are highly trained and heavily armed, so it is important that the anti-poaching rangers have the skills and equipment to tackle these guerrillas and be qualified in armed combat as well as bush survival.
Rachel Louise Carson, a celebrated American marine biologist, author, and conservationist, said, “No one needs a Rhino horn but a rhino”. The entire Morukuru Family couldn’t agree more, and we fully support all conservation efforts to end rhino poaching today and every day.
