Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is pleased to announce that in an effort to stem the rising tide of rhino poaching in South Africa, Tendele Coal Mining near Sokhulu between Mtubatuba and the eastern boundary of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP), is donating equipment and services valued at R250 000 to the HiP.
Illegal rhino killings in South Africa nearly tripled from 122 in 2009 to 330 in 2010, a trend attributed to a growing international demand for rhino horn.
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With rhino poaching on the increase, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has adopted a number of new anti-poaching interventions including the Rhino Security Intervention Plan which includes standard operating procedures, risk assessments and threat analysis. This plan will be further enhanced by Tendele Coal Mining's generous donation to fight the levels of sophistication which now characterise rhino poaching.Poaching operations are now more technologically advanced with professional syndicates hunting with helicopters, night vision gear and GPS equipment. The Tendele Coal Mining donation will provide flying time, crime scene kits, electronic equipment, training and the upgrading of a four-wheel drive vehicle with heavy duty suspension.

"Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park is one of South Africa's last rhino strongholds and as neighbours of the Park, it is imperative that we enable Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to make arrests and keep poachers at bay," said Tendele Coal Mining CEO Johan Gloy.


"This generous donation from Tendele Coal Mining will help enormously by closing the resource gap to ensure that the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park staff has the necessary equipment and training that will enable us to successfully counter the rhino poaching threat," said Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife CEO Dr Bandile Mkhize. "Finance to cover flying time will enable our staff to become airborne and react quickly to threats once," he added. "Tendele Mining's donations began earlier this year and are already proving successful in intensifying the pressure on would-be poachers," said Dr Mkhize. "By this time last year we had lost six animals compared to only two animals this year. Staff morale is high and our level of readiness is satisfactory," he said.


Far Eastern cultures have for centuries used rhino horn in traditional medicine preparations but now a claim that rhino horn can prevent cancer has caused a surge in demand. In addition, the upsurge in far Eastern economies has enabled more people to buy remedies containing rhino horn.