Rhino Stamp

Rhino Stamp GET STAMPED AND HELP STAMP OUT POACHING

Every day a rhino dies in Africa.

In 2010, 333 rhinos were poached for their horns. The following year the number rocketed to 448. So far this year 245 rhinos have been killed, 137 of them in the Kruger National Park. Campaigners against poaching have stated that if rhino poaching continues, rhinos could face extinction within the next ten years.

Every day a rhino dies in Africa.

James Suter and the journey

The founder of the Rhino Stamp organization, James Suter worked as Field Guide at Singita Kruger National Park from 2008 through to June 2011. While working in KNP, he had a life-changing experience when he came face to face with a rhino that had been fatally wounded, both horns were removed and it was slowly dying. He found this rhino on his way home from work and was shocked at the brutality of the poachers and the state of the rhino. The poachers had darted the rhino, so that it would sedated long enough for the criminals to remove the precious horns. The poachers had also wounded the rhino with the use of a machete, when the animal recovered it would move away from the crime scene and die from it wounds – consequently making it harder to track down the poachers.

James immediately alerted the section ranger. The vet on scene later stated, It was possible this animal had been wandering around in pain, slowly bleeding to death for as long as four days. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done to save the rhino and it had to be euthanized.

The experience made an impact and James started Rhino Stamp when he moved back to Cape Town at the end of 2011. Rhino Stamp started as a Facebook page merely heightening awareness, updating Facebook followers on rhino poaching information and statistics, encouraging people to get people involved. James then decided to make leather bracelets with a metal accessory that has the rhino stamp logo on it to sell and raise money for a company in the Kruger, Counter Poaching that are training volunteers to fight poaching in the Kruger National Park.

James believes that Counter Poaching in the KNP, supported and run by the Honorary Ranger’s organization is the right one for Rhino Stamp to support, due to the fact that The Honorary Ranger’s Counter Poaching Unit is based in KNP and are volunteers doing all they can to stop poaching. Because it is a volunteer organisation Honorary Ranger’s have low overhead costs. This means that no money is diverted from donations/sponsorship and accordingly every cent of Rhino Stamp’s donation will reach the intended counter poaching projects.

As James has worked and lived in the Kruger National Park himself, he understands how hard it is to fight poachers on foot, in the bush. Having worked as a Guide in this part of Southern Africa, Counter Poaching is a project James is determined to support.

Donations: Rhino Stamp donates R30 of every bracelet (R80 ea) sold to Counter Poaching. These bracelets can be ordered via James Suter’s Rhino Stamp Facebook page. James has been promoting these bracelets as well as his Rhino Stamp organization, at for example, Indaba 2012 held at the Cape Town Convention Centre. At this event, the Holmes Brothers, clothing designers, approached James with the idea of creating a t- shirt with the Rhino Stamp logo on it – that would be sold in all of the Holmes Brother’s stores throughout South Africa. This t-shirt has since been designed for both men and women, and also helps to raise money for Counter Poaching – through Rhino Stamp. R10 of every t-shirt sold is donated to Counter Poaching.

Honorary Rangers’ Counter Poaching Project The Honorary Rangers (HR) organisation comprises volunteers who support South African National Parks (SanParks). The counter poaching section of the Honorary Ranger’s is chaired by John Turner from Gauteng. Their fundraising model is based on the sale of two popular products in the Kruger National Park, and these funds support the Environmental Crime Investigation unit and procure equipment for this work.

Currently there are almost 1000 Honorary Rangers that operate nationwide in 30 regions of South Africa, including KNP. Honorary Rangers offer their services to the parks as individuals. Members adhere to a strict code of conduct and are required to complete a range of courses to prepare them for involvement in the parks.

These volunteers have set up anti-poaching teams in KNP and ensure that the teams are properly trained and effectively managed. They also assist in raising funds and sponsorship for equipment and other apparatus needed for these Counter Poaching teams to operate. They have established a training program in KNP, educating volunteers over an intensive six-week period.

The support of these counter poaching teams is top priority for the SanParks Honorary Rangers. The Honorary Rangers also help supply the necessary equipment needed, from back packs, tents and GPS units, to supplying specialised counter poaching.

Night vision equipment for surveillance and rifle mounted night vision equipment for engagements.

Counter Poaching has the following objectives in terms of training anti-poachers in the Kruger using the funds raised:

a) To qualify each student/anti-poacher so that he or she may operate as a Counter Poaching Ranger, without endangering his fellow Counter Poaching Rangers while on duty in a game reserve.

b) To ensure the protection of wildlife species and to prevent all types of poaching on any wildlife in any protected area where he is employed.

c) To make sure that the necessary evidence is collected (with specialized equipment) after poaching incidents for later prosecution.

d) To prevent the complete extinction of endangered species of fauna and flora.

e) To collect the necessary evidence without being seen by poachers in order to prosecute a case successfully in a court of law in South Africa.