South African conservation organisations and bodies have long been at the forefront of protecting Africa’s iconic White and Black Rhinos.

As rangers went to war against heavily armed and highly organised gangs of poachers, many South Africans have become more concerned about our remaining rhinos.

Created in 2011, through a partnership between MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Braam Malherbe, local conservationist, the MyPlanet Rhino Fund has become one of the biggest citizen-driven fundraising initiatives for rhino conservation. More than R9,1 million has been raised over the past six years, and has been used to fund a variety of rhino conservation and education projects.

World Rhino Day, celebrated on 22 September, confirms the intention of everyone from conservationists to concerned citizens to bring the planet’s five rhino species back from the brink of extinction. In the past 12 months, over 54 000 cardholders have raised R2,6 million for the MyPlanet Rhino Fund simply by using their loyalty cards at participating partner stores. 

Over the same period of time, the Department of Environmental Affairs reported a slight, but very welcome, decline in the loss of rhinos for the second year in a row*, indicating that the increased conservation efforts are starting to pay off.

MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet cardholders provide support by making the MyPlanet Rhino Fund their beneficiary, and then swipe their cards at participating retailers, which in turn makes a contribution on their behalf.

Each year, the MyPlanet Rhino Fund disperses funds to conservation organisations and parastatal agencies that use a variety of best practices and programmes to protect rhinos.

“While good work is being done to improve the protection of rhinos, there are still far too many rhinos lost every year. Unfortunately, rhino poaching cartels are sophisticated and well resourced, and our conservation bodies have to match this if they are going to be effective. We are deeply grateful to our supporters, and hope many more South Africans will come on board as MyPlanet Rhino Fund cardholders,” Malherbe says.

The major donation of the MyPlanet Rhino Fund this year is R1 169 000 that has been used to buy a Foxbat A-22LS aircraft for SANParks Kruger National Park, enabling the anti-poaching unit to improve aerial support and benefit from the latest technology.

The MyPlanet Rhino Fund has also made donations to help the Special Species Protection Unit of Savé Valley Conservancy, which is part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, and to the Rhino Pride Foundation Trust, which implements layered, early warning security measures at key Rhino sanctuaries.

Rhino poaching in KwaZulu-Natal is on the rise and the MyPlanet Rhino Fund has donated R250 000 to the SANParks Honorary Rangers Kwazulu Natal Region’s Climb for K9 campaign, which enables them to buy much-needed GPS tracking harnesses and medical trauma kits for their anti-poaching Canine (K9) Unit.

Dogs play an important role in rhino protection and another canine-focused beneficiary of the MyPlanet Rhino Fund in 2017 is the Balule Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit. A donation has been made to enable the establishment of a canine component of their successful Black Mamba All-Women Anti-Poaching Unit. 

Protecting rhinos is multi-faceted and complex with conservationists pitted against determined, high stakes criminal syndicates.  Apart from the on-the-ground efforts, there’s a great need also for effective intelligence gathering and real-time data processing and analysis.  A donation from the MyPlanet Rhino Fund will enable Welgevonden Reaction of the Waterberg’s Welgevonden Game Reserve to establish a state-of-the-art Joint Operations Centre to enhance rhino protection in Limpopo Province.

Education and community upliftment are other important aspects tied to the efforts to protect South Africa’s Rhinos.  This year, the fund is also providing support to two programmes, the Lapalala Wilderness School and Rhino Revolution’s Green Kidz programme that aim to foster awareness and develop conservation leadership in the youth from vulnerable communities.

“The range and scope of these rhino conservation projects supported by our South African consumers over the past year is incredible,” says Helene Brand, MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet CSI Manager. “It just goes to show that when you have enough people caring about rhinos, in just one year of fund-raising you can buy a brand new, modern airplane to help the National Treasure that is our Kruger Park keep reducing rhino deaths.  Together, we really can make a difference, and I hope this inspires many more South Africans to sign up for a card and choose the MyPlanet Rhino Fund as their beneficiary.  Just by swiping your card every time you shop at Woolworths, Engen Foodstops, Bidvest Waltons, Flight Centre and loot.co.za amongst others, you raise money.  The MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet retail partners will make contributions to the MyPlanet Rhino Fund on your behalf and in this way, you can give dedicated conservationists and rangers the edge in the battle to save our rhinos from extinction.”