Our Rhino Custodians
The success story no one’s telling
Rhino custodians – private landowners protecting rhinos on their properties – are an under-told success story. They are conservationists who maintain vast wildlife areas, accept personal risk and invest substantial resources, all because they believe rhinos are worth protecting.
Across South Africa, privately protected rhino populations have grown from approximately 6,500 in 2016 to more than 10,000 today. In contrast, state-led conservation efforts continue to struggle against organised poaching networks, constrained by scale, bureaucracy, and limited ability to adapt quickly on the ground. As a result, poaching pressure remains highest in publicly managed areas.
Private custodians achieve lower poaching rates through hands-on management: constant presence on the land, rapid decision-making, and close coordination between custodians, veterinarians and protection teams. Their ability to collaborate and respond quickly has proven critical.
With your support, Rhino Connect is able to strengthen this approach by co-ordinating access to emergency veterinary response, aviation support, K9 units and orphan care across the network. By connecting people and resources rather than working in isolation, private conservation remains viable and rhinos remain protected.
We ensure custodians don’t fight alone, so they can focus on what matters most: keeping rhinos alive.
Our Community
Rhino Connect’s impact is only possible because of strategic partnerships with organisations and individuals who share our commitment to collaborative conservation.
