~White rhino, their horns micro-chipped and saturated in poison, are under 24-hour armed guard~
The Chairman of The Waterberg Trust reports, ‘Having just returned from the Waterberg, I can confirm that the The Waterberg Trust security container is being used by the Waterberg Security Initative at the Living Museum.’
~Some of the WSI rangers~
‘We met one of the guards there and saw how the container is used as a staging post for security patrols.’ These run through the night. This security container was bought with funds raised on The 2016 Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride.
~A patrol vehicle outside a security container purchased with funds raised by TWT riders~
As a result of funds raised on the The Waterberg Challenge Ride 2017 and a dinner held at Southill Park by kind invitation of the Whitbreads in November 2017, a significant grant was made to Save the Waterberg Rhino for the installation of LPR cameras to cover what is know as the Dorset/Palala/Melkrivier security cluster. This includes all the reserves traversed this January on The 2019 Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride.
The cluster will be run by the Waterberg Security Initiative (WSI) who are responsible for utilising the sophisticated software that highlights any suspicious activity. It records evidence and prompts security patrols to apprehend potential criminals.
The increased level of security will not only help in the fight against rhino poaching but also combats other crime in the Waterberg.
~Substantial posts being planted on which LPR cameras are mounted in the Waterberg~
The License Plate Recognition cameras purchased with a substantial grant from The Waterberg Trust are all installed and are live. They use highly sophisticated technology, operating 24/7 to monitor vehicles in the area. Cameras in the neighbouring Greater Marakele Cluster are also being installed and should be live next week, thanks to a grant from TUSK.
Since The Waterberg Trust is a UK registered charity we can apply for grants in the UK, accept CAF cheques and add Gift Aid to maximise donations to Save The Waterberg Rhino. If you would like to help financially, please click here.
An introductory talk from Jessica Babich of Save The Waterberg Rhino
The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2018 began with a talk on Save The Waterberg Rhino who will receive 50% of funds raised on the ride to increase security in the area.
While the rhino themselves were resting under a tree, the riders gathered to embark on an afternoon ride across Ant’s Nest game reserve to gain an understanding of the area.
The route was planned by Ant Baber, who would use his experience to lead the challenge ride over the next six days. Everyone had been in training, working on their fitness.
The horse managers at Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill had carefully chosen and prepared horses for each rider. They needed to be young and hardy enough to cope with the challenge.
Some riders had found vented hot-weather helmets and wore gloves to keep off the sun. Long-distance McClellen saddles were used with specialist neoprene numnas.
It was magical to be riding through the African bushveldt. Being high summer in South Africa, everything was green and the dams were filling after last year’s drought.
The riders soon came across a number of giraffe browsing on blooming acacia.
A mature adult male giraffe was happy to let us get fairly close.
As the horses normally graze out on the reserve, the wild animals are used to their presence.
We let the horses browse to reassure the wildlife that all was well.
The riders moved on to see zebra, wildebeest, warthog and a variety of antelope.
Ant Baber was also able to show us his breeding herd of Cape buffalo that tend to prefer thick bush.
This would normally be a rare sighting but the animals were peaceful and behaved naturally.
We then picked up speed and managed to cover quite a bit of ground.
It was not a hard ride but we learnt a great deal and got used to dodging thorn trees.
Riders ended up gathering at Ant Baber’s house to as the sun went down to learn more about Save The Waterberg Rhino and the anti-poaching initiatives currently in place.
Here they could observe a number of white rhino who arrived with a few warthog in tow.
It was an opportunity to met some of the armed security guards who watch over the rhino around the clock and are in contact with the South African police.
Here they could observe a number of white rhino who arrived with a few warthog in tow.
The Waterberg Trust 