Ongoing Rhino Conservation at Huntershill Safaris
We are deeply invested in conservation – and always have been. While some non-hunters might find this a contradiction, and ask, “how can a hunting lodge be concerned with conservation?” they simply do not understand the possibilities that hunting dollars bring to local conservation efforts, in particular rhino conservation.
As a result of our dedication to conservation, we’ve seen amazing enrichment to our wildlife, with small herds of non-typical species for Africa growing to their hundreds and roaming freely: Peer Davids Deer, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Arabian Oryx, Red Deer, and Mouflon Sheep, to name a few.
We’ve always had a special focus on building up the numbers of local endangered species.
One of these is the rhinoceros.
In 2015 we rescued a rhino cow that was threatened, and successfully released her into the mountains of the game farm.
This was the start of our rhino breeding project.
The Devastation of Rhino Poaching in Africa
Over time, the rhino population at Huntershill Safaris started to grow nicely.
However, as many of you know who have walked a long road with us, towards the end of 2017 we lost five of our beloved rhinos due to poaching.
This was a devastating blow, and at the end of 2017 we were down to one rhino at the farm.
Greg got to work fast, and introduced new rhinos to the herd.
We also started an active anti-poaching regime where we dehorned the rhinos to keep them safe from poachers, and soon the numbers started growing again.
Rhino Conservation Brings Numbers Back Up to Double Digits in 2022
Due to Greg and the team’s concerted efforts, the rhino breeding project is seeing amazing results.
Thanks to the hunter’s dollar, good rains, and a successful breeding project, we now have three happy, bouncy babies running around the farm, and rhino numbers are back in the double digits.