Guardians of our Wildlife
Guardians of our Wildlife
The relentless poaching of rhino continues to escalate across the continent – particularly across the Greater Kruger National Park region of South Africa, which is home to more than 80% of Africa’s rhino populations. As organised crime syndicates keep changing their tactics, more than 10,000 of these magnificent animals have been lost to poaching in the past 10 years.
Singita and various conservation partners have been actively involved in rhino conservation and protection for the past 30 years, and in supporting the Singita Lowveld Trust (SLT), we remain steadfast to ensure the survival of the species.
The SLT supports 24/7 anti-poaching and law enforcement efforts which are critical to safeguarding the many species of conservation concern.
The SLT also supports the expertly trained canine (K9) dog unit and anti-poaching (APU) field rangers – including the piloting and deployment of innovative technology – such as trail cameras, night-vision equipment, virtual tracking harnesses for dogs, and 4x4 all-terrain vehicles for increased mobility and off-road tracking. The K9 dog units are gamechangers – providing invaluable support in detecting, tracking and apprehension capabilities.
Our combined efforts have proven to be highly effective: we have good rates of early detection and follow-ups on incursions preventing poaching on the property, and only a single rhino has been lost on our properties in the past five years. And yet, this is a fragile achievement, as the pressure remains relentless and poachers’ tactics are ever-changing – which requires sustained 24/7 vigilance and ever-increasing resources to hold the line.
Conservation Partner
Singita Lowveld Trust
In South Africa, the Singita Lowveld Trust manages a wide range of conservation projects in Singita Sabi Sand and Singita Kruger National Park – from anti-poaching initiatives to wildlife research & land management, sustainability efforts and community partnership projects such as early childhood development, digital learning and a world-class culinary school.
A highly skilled team of tracking dogs and handlers enhance anti-poaching efforts in the Sabi Sand Reserve, while the Trust’s partnership with the global conservation NGO Panthera has shown that the area is home to the largest density of leopards of any protected area surveyed in South Africa. The Panthera’s Furs for Life project – of which Singita is a partner – has reduced the demand for leopard skins by 50%.
