Rhino Revolution

13/01/2026

"A wildlife-based economy, including rhino horn trade, is an example of what UNEP has defined as an Inclusive Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.
As UNEP states, “such an economy is low carbon, efficient and clean in production, but also inclusive in consumption and outcomes, based on sharing, circularity, collaboration, solidarity, resilience, opportunity, and interdependence”.
Communal lands could become areas of biodiversity regeneration and wildlife growth, given the appropriate government policies and resource allocations."

By Dr Daniel Stiles On 31st October, 2025, South Africa’s High Court in the Northern Cape ruled in favour of Hendrick Diedericks, owner of a registered rhino Captive Breeding Operation (CBO) in the Northern Cape known as Rockwood Conservation. Starting with 45 southern white rhinos purchased from ...

09/12/2025

"If COP20 becomes known as the moment when global ideals triumphed over African pragmatism, the result will not be moral victory. It will be shrinking habitat, silent declines, and a continent forced to sacrifice living wildlife for land uses that pay better. Conservation will not collapse spectacularly. It will erode quietly. And when it does, the world will learn, too late, that hope without incentive is a fragile foundation on which to build the future of Africa’s wildlife."

https://travelnam.com/when-the-world-decides-africas-wildlife-must-die-quietly/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOk7GlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe1ToBFivD-KiV0Rc4KTJBWqffZ2CFSFh08PLxKKsUrn3V9DlcBEHzsX_sLQM_aem_wPS7VK7PwyqafBiqyhtQWw

Southern Africa did not build its conservation successes through wishful thinking or moral certainty. It built them by recognising that wildlife must compete with poverty, land pressure, and the realities of rural life. Where wildlife carries value, land remains habitat. Where it does not, it is plo...

07/12/2025

POV: You are not you when you are hungry. 🥴🦏

This lovely moment was captured by one of our monitoring cameras this morning. These cams are an ideal tool to remotely observe and record natural behaviour.

What you see here is more than just “cute”:
The calf is practising confidence and boundary-setting – important skills for a young male that one day will have to stand his ground.
Nkonzo’s calm retreat shows typical adult tolerance for youngster behaviour; he doesn’t see the calf as a real threat, so he simply gives way instead of escalating.
The mother stays relaxed – a good sign that everyone in this little crash feels safe and secure in their environment.

25/11/2025

"South Africa’s wildlife is not a Western moral project, it is an African heritage. Our lions, elephants, rhinos, and all our wild creatures exist today not because of bans, but because of use. They survive where they are valued. They thrive where they bring benefit...The time has come to put aside rhetoric, to silence the slogans, and to return to what works; science, sustainability, and sovereignty."

https://www.biznews.com/rational-perspective/give-wildlife-value-flourishes?fbclid=IwY2xjawOSMFNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeq1MrYbeHa3ojSbrttogo1OyR6JYT_rmmErol8IUWBocJXviOnjHATxTtBYk_aem_BcWKUTng0zav51XNmizJ5g

Key topics:Trevor Oertel critiques animal-rights influence on South Africa’s conservation policyCalls for return to science-based, sustainable-use conservation

12/11/2025

Congratulations Willie Aucamp on your appointment as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

In the spirit of Ubuntu, may your leadership build on South Africa’s conservation legacy, champion sustainable use of our natural resources, and advance the Global Biodiversity Framework’s targets — ensuring a tomorrow where both people and nature flourish.

🚨 Introducing the newly appointed Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the DA’s Willie Aucamp.

The DA entered the Government of National Unity with a clear mission: to confront SA’s most urgent challenges, Willie will continue with this mission. 🇿🇦

12/11/2025

No words needed—just a rare black rhino moment. We loved it; hope you do too!

07/11/2025

The Court ruling actually puts South Africa in a leadership role supporting the CITES vision that “by 2030, all international trade in wild fauna and flora is legal and sustainable.” At the CITES Conference later this month, Minister George and his team have a unique opportunity to demonstrate South Africa’s commitment to this vision by supporting legal trade in rhino horn to conserve rhinos. Prof Francis Vorhies

In a press release on Thursday, 30 October 2025, South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment put out a statement by its Minister, Dr Dion George, saying, “South Africa will not support any move to reopen the ivory or rhino horn trade. Our duty is to protect our wildlife...

31/10/2025

Congratulations and well done everyone involved 👏

BREAKING: A Victory for Rhinos, Conservation, and Communities!

In a landmark ruling, the High Court in Kimberley has opened the door for legal and regulated international trade in rhino horn—a decision that could save the species, fund conservation, and uplift rural communities across South Africa.
For decades, experts like Dr. George Hughes and Dr. Ian Player have argued that the solution to poaching has been obvious: allow ethical trade in rhino horn. Why? Because rhinos don’t need to die for their horns.

🔹 Rhino horn is made of keratin—dead tissue like hair and nails
🔹 It can be harvested from live rhinos without harm
🔹 It grows back naturally, making it a renewable resource
🔹 Horns are trimmed routinely to prevent poaching and injury
🔹 These trimmed horns have been stockpiled—a wasted conservation asset

Meanwhile, poaching continues to devastate rhino populations. Despite 50 years of CITES restrictions, Africa’s rhinos have been decimated.

The court ruled that:
✅ The CITES exemption for conservation-bred rhinos is part of South African law
✅ Export permits must be issued for horn from conservation breeding facilities
✅ No import permit is required from the receiving country
✅ The MEC must decide on issuing a certificate within 7 days
This ruling unlocks millions in foreign revenue, supports community-led conservation, and shifts profits from poachers to protectors.

SANBI’s Scientific Authority warned in 2019:
“It is unlikely that current protection funding can be sustained… a legal trade should be explored.”

Now, conservation-breeding operations can take hands with community reserves, where ethical horn trimming can fund both wildlife protection and rural livelihoods. This model can rewild vast landscapes, uplift disadvantaged communities, and foster coexistence between people and wildlife.

This is more than a legal win—it’s a lifeline for rhinos and a bold step toward 21st-century conservation.

Let’s celebrate this victory and keep fighting for a future where rhinos thrive and communities prosper!

28/10/2025

Honoured and grateful! We’re proud to share that we’re among South Africa’s Top 9 in the Defender Awards and have advanced from SA to the international finals. Across seven participating countries there are 56 finalists in total—humbling to stand among such outstanding organisations. Thank you to the judges and the Defender team for recognising our community conservation and land protection work and for the care taken reviewing so many strong applications. We’re cheering for all fellow finalists. Let’s all defend tomorrow together. 🌍🦏