Today is World Environment Day, the theme – illegal wildlife trafficking. Whether or not to legalise the trade in rhino horn has been one of the hottest controversies surrounding the poaching crisis. The South African government has backed off plans to seek the legalisation of an international horn trade later this year at the CITES convention, […]
Tag Archives: Phinda
The poaching of white rhino bull #109
Yesterday we published an interview with Simon Naylor, reserve manager at Phinda private game reserve in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, revealing the full impact of poaching on the reserve’s rhinos, finances and staff. Today we publish his report of a recent poaching incident. The report has been edited to remove location and identity information for […]
At the sharp end – the true cost of rhino poaching
How bad is the rhino poaching in Africa right now and how big a toll is the deadly horn trade taking on those battling to save them day in, day out? Reserve manager Simon Naylor of Phinda game reserve in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province has just had the job of dehorning their population of rhinos in […]
Meet the rhino whisperer
Meet Sekora Gunikhwe, rhino whisperer. Sekora’s rather extraordinary job is to get to know six very special white rhino, to understand their individual behavioural quirks, and to familiarise the animals with his presence. To do this he chats quietly to them. It’s doubtful they can understand what he’s saying, for if these rhinos could talk […]
Footprints of Hope
Specialist guide Daryl Dell and game tracker Bernard Mnguni of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal rarely get the chance to put their feet up. But these days the pair get even less chance to take a load off and relax. The pair work for luxury safari operator &Beyond and have both […]
