Who are we?
Mark of the Rhino Expeditions is a 100% voluntary organization, we assist private rhino owners in protecting their rhino by patrolling the reserve, day and night, whenever we have members available to do so and assisting the reserve in whatever we we can.
We have members from all walks of life and of all ages, our members are all passionate about rhino and wildlife conservation and want to try make a difference in some small way.
We have members from all walks of life and of all ages, our members are all passionate about rhino and wildlife conservation and want to try make a difference in some small way.
How did we come about?
The organization was started by members who were tired of giving money to "anti rhino poaching" organizations and not knowing how the money was being used or how much of the money was reaching the rhino, we needed to find a way that we could make a difference. Most reserves will not allow a private person onto a reserve unless they have had several years training or have several qualifications behind their name. We teamed up with a private wildlife reserve in the North West Province and asked them if they would allow us to help them look after their rhino, obviously they were skeptical at first but out of sheer desperation they allowed us onto their reserve to try help them protect their rhino.
We now have a team of very passionate and dedicated members that give up their time and money to be in vehicles and on foot patrolling and protecting the rhino.
We now have a team of very passionate and dedicated members that give up their time and money to be in vehicles and on foot patrolling and protecting the rhino.
What do we do?
Because of the diverse group of members we have, we are able to have people on the reserve during the week and on weekends. Our primary function is to work in conjunction with the reserve management in monitoring and protecting their rhino and wildlife from subsistence, commercial and chopper poachers.
Our members patrol in vehicles and on foot during the day and night looking for signs of forced entry on the fence lines, poacher and hunting dog spoor, suspicious vehicles or people on the fences and anything else that could be a threat to the wildlife on the reserve.
We monitor and protect the groups of rhino on the reserve and give information back to the reserve management about where the groups are situated, what rhino are together, where they are moving to or from and any other relevant information.
We also take note of and collect information of any suspicious vehicles or persons around the reserve and this information is given to the reserve who in turn share this information with all the rhino owners in the area. We receive a lot of our information from other reserves in the same way.
Our members patrol in vehicles and on foot during the day and night looking for signs of forced entry on the fence lines, poacher and hunting dog spoor, suspicious vehicles or people on the fences and anything else that could be a threat to the wildlife on the reserve.
We monitor and protect the groups of rhino on the reserve and give information back to the reserve management about where the groups are situated, what rhino are together, where they are moving to or from and any other relevant information.
We also take note of and collect information of any suspicious vehicles or persons around the reserve and this information is given to the reserve who in turn share this information with all the rhino owners in the area. We receive a lot of our information from other reserves in the same way.
Is it dangerous?
Obviously because you are dealing with potentially armed and dangerous poachers there is always a certain risk involved. Our primary concern is the safety of our members.
All new members are taken to the reserve with a member and given introductory training, the reserve also offers us training to better equip ourselves and protect ourselves.
We are not on the reserve to engage the poachers, we are there to be a visible deterrent. If a member finds himself or herself in a potentially dangerous situation then the protocol is to retreat to a safe distance, call for assistance on the radio or mobile phone and wait for help to arrive.
It's not mandatory to have a firearm but many of our members are armed and have some type of weapons training or background.
Many members patrol with their husbands or wives and we even have some ladies that patrol on their own or with other ladies, however nobody under the age of 18 years is allowed to do patrols.
All new members are taken to the reserve with a member and given introductory training, the reserve also offers us training to better equip ourselves and protect ourselves.
We are not on the reserve to engage the poachers, we are there to be a visible deterrent. If a member finds himself or herself in a potentially dangerous situation then the protocol is to retreat to a safe distance, call for assistance on the radio or mobile phone and wait for help to arrive.
It's not mandatory to have a firearm but many of our members are armed and have some type of weapons training or background.
Many members patrol with their husbands or wives and we even have some ladies that patrol on their own or with other ladies, however nobody under the age of 18 years is allowed to do patrols.
How do I join?
Every member that wishes to join undergoes an interview to explain in more detail what we do and to ensure that this is something that you as a prospective member want to do and also to ensure that you know what's expected of you as a member.
Every member must undergo a polygraph test which we will initiate for you with Polygraph Services, you would be required to furnish us with all you personal particulars, medical aid details, proof of residency and a copy of your firearm license (if applicable).
All the information and necessary forms can be downloaded from this website under the "Application Forms" section or if you wish to speak to someone all our contact details are also on the site under the "Contact" header.
Every member must undergo a polygraph test which we will initiate for you with Polygraph Services, you would be required to furnish us with all you personal particulars, medical aid details, proof of residency and a copy of your firearm license (if applicable).
All the information and necessary forms can be downloaded from this website under the "Application Forms" section or if you wish to speak to someone all our contact details are also on the site under the "Contact" header.