At the core of our business is wildlife conservation. It’s why we do what we do…
Each of our unique experiential travel expeditions directly contributes to the relevant conservation project that our clients are safely participating in – and by looking at these stunning wildlife images – it’s a sure way of ensure their survival and this continually gives us the passion to ‘keep on keeping on…’
Since 2003, we have had the privilege of working on the following number of species – each one contributed to by clients;
- Over 1 130 x White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
- Over 35 x Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
- 5 x Desert Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis bicornis)
- Over 70 x African / Savannah Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
- Over 80 x African / Savannah Lion (Panthera leo)
- Over 25 x Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
- Over 10 x African Wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
- Over 20 x African / Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
- 2 x Leopard (Panthera pardus)
With regards the current conservation status of Africa’s flagship species it’s unfortunately not pleasant reading.
WHITE RHINOCEROS (Ceratotherium simum)
Listed as Near Threatened with an Increasing population trend in Southern Africa but a Decreasing population trend elsewhere in Africa (IUCN RED LIST of THREATENED SPECIES, 2020)
BLACK RHINO (Diceros bicornis)
Listed as Critically Endangered with an Increasing population trend in South Africa but a Decreasing population trend elsewhere in Africa (IUCN RED LIST of THREATENED SPECIES, 2020)
DESERT BLACK RHINO (Diceros bicornis bicornis)
Listed as Vulnerable with an Increasing population trend in South Africa but a Decreasing population trend elsewhere in Africa (IUCN RED LIST of THREATENED SPECIES, 2020) – Distribution data not mapped for this species.
- Every 10 hours a rhino is poached on average across Africa. South Africa is home to +/-80% of the World’s rhino population and hence experiences the biggest poaching pressure on a daily basis.
- 99% of poached rhino horn ends up in the Far East and is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices. One big demand is that it is believed to be a cure for cancer – which in fact it is definitely not. It is also viewed as a sign of great prestige to own jewellery (bangle / bracelet) or an ornament made from rhino horn – or to give it as a gift. Rhino horn is made predominantly of the protein Keratin – which is similar to your fingernails and toenails…
- In the last 3 years, rhino poaching numbers have dropped in South Africa which is very pleasing to see BUT this does not mean that the poachers and incursions into reserves have become fewer… In fact, the pressures now are as high as they have ever been – it’s just that reserves and APU’s (anti-poaching units) are much better prepared to counteract these incursions than they were 4-5 years ago… Poaching methods are constantly evolving and so too must counter poaching methods…
- Painless de-horning procedures are also proving to be an effective deterrent against poaching and more and more reserves are turning to this method as a poaching prevention tool – however it is costly and the de-horning procedures have to be repeated again in 15-20 months’ time as the horns grow back…
- With also extract DNA from every rhino that we work on with our clients. This DNA is sent to Dr. Cindy Harper at the University of Pretoria and processed as part of RhODIS® (Rhino DNA Index System). This is a project that was initiated by Dr. Harper at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory of the University of Pretoria in order to help with the plight of the rhinos. The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory is collecting DNA samples of rhinos across the country to create a database using the unique DNA profile of individual rhinos. The goal is for all rhinos to be on the system. This will deter poachers and assist in forensic prosecutions.
- RhODIS® was first used in a rhino poaching case in 2010 and resulted in a Vietnamese citizen being sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for having rhinoceros horns from poached rhinos in his baggage when he was apprehended at OR Tambo International Airport. South African National Parks (SANParks) have partnered with RhODIS since 2010 and in association with the Forensics Science Laboratory of the South African Police Services have played a key role in the development and implementation of the RhODIS Kit for sample collection.
- The RhODIS® project is something which Mark and The Boucher Legacy has supported and has certainly assisted it to be where it is today.
- WHITE RHINOCEROS (Ceratotherium simum)
- BLACK RHINO (Diceros bicornis)
- DESERT BLACK RHINO (Diceros bicornis bicornis)
– Horn & hump microchip insertions
– De-horning’s for anti-poaching purposes
– Ear notches for individual ID
– DNA extraction for National Database purposes (RhODIS®)
– Horn implants for monitoring purposes
– Foot collar fitments for monitoring purposes
AFRICAN / SAVANNAH ELEPHANT (Loxodonta africana)
Listed as Vulnerable with an Increasing population trend in Southern Africa but a Decreasing population trend elsewhere in Africa (IUCN RED LIST of THREATENED SPECIES, 2020)
- Alarmingly, we have seen quite a dramatic rise in elephant poaching in South Africa since 2017. The International trade in ivory was banned up until 1997 when it was was lifted and replaced by a newly regulated legal ivory trade. This legal trade in ivory is a major challenge facing elephant conservation projects in Africa today. Although quotas for African elephant tusk sales are decided after meetings between governments and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), lifting the ban also resulted in the return of widespread ivory poaching which has accounted for the illegal killing of thousands of African elephants each year, above and beyond the agreed quotas.
- +/- 100 elephants are killed every day in Africa for their ivory. At this rate the species could disappear from much of their range within decades. Whether we’ll ever return to the complete ivory ban of 1990 is unclear but the more people who join the fight against ivory trading and poaching in particular, the more hope there is for Africa’s remaining elephants.
- AFRICAN / SAVANNAH ELEPHANT (Loxodonta africana)
– Cellular / telemetry tracking collar fitments for monitoring & research purposes
– Immunocontraception for population management and to curb over-population
– DNA extraction for National Database purposes
AFRICAN / SAVANNAH LION (Panthera leo)
Listed as Vulnerable with a Decreasing population trend (IUCN RED LIST of THREATENED SPECIES, 2020)
- There has been a substantial decline in lion populations outside of protected areas over the past two decades and there are now fewer free-roaming lions in Africa than there are rhino…!
- Illegal hunting, habitat loss and human conflict have been major contributors to this decrease – as well as international trade in lion parts (bones etc.) for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices in the Far East.
- The preservation of the wild populations’ gene pool is also critical for the long-term survival of the species.
The type of LION conservation work we conduct with our clients on our unique experiential travel expeditions is as follows;
- AFRICAN / SAVANNAH LION (Panthera leo)
– DNA extraction for National Database purposes
– Disease and genetics testing
– Tracking collar fitments for monitoring & research purposes
– Brandings for individual ID purposes
– Contraception’s (male & female) to curb in-breeding and to preserve genetic strength
CHEETAH (Acinonyx jubatus)
Listed as Vulnerable with a Decreasing population trend (IUCN RED LIST of THREATENED SPECIES, 2020)
There has been a substantial decline in cheetah populations outside of protected areas due to human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss. Conflict with livestock and the subsequent reprisals from farmers is a major concern for cheetah populations outside of protected areas. It is estimated there are only some 6 500 mature individuals left in the wild.
AFRICAN WILD DOG (Lycaon pictus
Listed as Vulnerable with a Decreasing population trend (IUCN RED LIST of THREATENED SPECIES, 2020)
Like the Cheetah, there has also been a substantial decline in African wild dog populations outside of protected areas due to human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss. Conflict with livestock and the subsequent reprisals from farmers is a major concern for African wild dog populations outside of protected areas. It is estimated there are only some 1 400 mature individuals left in the wild.
AFRICAN / CAPE BUFFALO (Syncerus caffer)
Listed as Near Threatened with a Decreasing population trend (IUCN RED LIST of THREATENED SPECIES, 2020)
- African buffalo populations outside of protected areas are also decreasing due to increased pressures from communities for food (meat). This is also particularly bad in civil unrest or drought hit areas where animals are already stressed and their meat is a prized source of protein. Illegal hunting, habitat loss and human conflict have been the main contributors to this decreasing population trend.
- Buffaloes are also carriers of foot and mouth disease and they can also suffer from bovine tuberculosis. They are therefore they are not allowed beyond certain areas (red line areas) as they might infect other animals, like cattle – which would be disastrous for the beef industry. Other diseases that buffalo can be carriers of are;
- Corridor disease (One of the most important diseases associated with buffalo breeding, and fatal in cattle)
- Bovine Catarrhal Fever
- Brucellosis
The type of CHEETAH, WILD DOG & BUFFALO conservation work we conduct with our clients on our unique experiential travel expeditions is as follows;
– Tracking collar fitments for monitoring & research purposes
– Disease and genetics testing
– Vaccinations and contraception’s (Cheetah and Wild dog)
– DNA extraction for National Database purposes
