New Rhino Calf Arrival At Care For Wild

Yesterday was one of those days again, "A new arrival at Care For Wild", with the help of Jock Safari Lodge Rangers, who managed to find a missing calf, who's mother was poached a couple of days before. Below is the youngster offloaded from the SANParks helicopter, and the chopper together with its dedicated staff, making their way back to an active war zone. If you would like to see what gets done at "Care For Wild, please join our exclusive "Rhino Sanctuary #Krugerpark #Safari, or our 2 Night 3 Day Quickie #Safaris. Or you can visit our website at https://nhongosafaris.com/exclusive-5-day-rhino-sanctuary-kruger-safari  or https://nhongosafaris.com/3-day-rhino-quickie-safari for all the options, and choices. #satsa_sa #OurJourneysChangeLives #krugerlowveld

Rhino Calf getting prepared for departure

Rhino calf in SANPArks helicopter for its transfer to "Care For Wild

Rhino calf darted and waiting for backup vehicle

Rhino Calf out of the SANParks chopper at "Care For Wild"

Rhino calf in the "Intensive Care Crate" at "Care For Wild"

Amandas Photo

A nice photo of a leopard taken by Amanda yesterday while on a 5 Day #safari in the #Krugerpark. For more info on our #safaris, please visit our website at https://www.nhongosafaris.com/5-day-african-southern-kruger… for further details.

Leopard on Termite Mound.

Conservation Canine “Annie” and her marathon mission, bags three poachers.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Conservation Canine, Annie, and her handler, Colin, have struck again, with their efforts leading to the arrest of three suspected rhino poachers in Balule Private Nature Reserve, Limpopo.

In what may be one of the most exciting anti-poaching follow-ups of the year, Annie and Colin tracked through the night to secure this victory for wildlife. Suspected poacher tracks were found during a late afternoon anti-poaching patrol and Annie and Colin, with assistant, Mervyn and the EWT’s Canine Handler trainee, Shay were soon deployed on the tracks. They followed the tracks through the night and literally completed a marathon in pursuit of the suspects through the darkness.

This was not however, a solo mission, as the whole community assisted with the chase, including the Balule Regional Anti-poaching Units, the South African Police Service, and a large number of Hoedspruit Farm Watch members who closed potential exit routes. The operation was skilfully coordinated by the Balule Operations Room, and by daybreak, the suspects had been successfully contained within the reserve. With sunrise, air support could be brought in, and two fixed wing aircraft (Flying for Rhinos and Game Reserves United), the Wild Skies Aviation chopper, a gyrocopter, and the Hoedspruit Airforce Base’s Oryx helicopter joined the mission. The ground tracking team was joined by the Southern African Wildlife College Dog Unit’s pack hounds. This huge effort culminated in the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of a rifle with silencer and other poaching equipment. The poachers had done everything to try and deter Conservation Canine Annie, including covering their shoes in sponge and continually backtracking and circling to try and confuse her, but to no avail.

The EWT’s Conservation Canine Fury, who is trained to detect rhino horn, ivory, and ammunition, with the EWT’s Canine Handler trainee, Shay, searched for evidence at key sites. This is a shining example of how a community can stand together against the scourge of rhino poaching facing our country.

EWT Conservation Canine Annie and her team have been responsible for the arrest of no less than 12 suspected poachers this year alone, and her ability to operate at night with her handler is seen as a major step forward in the fight against rhino poaching. Annie is a four-year-old Belgian Malinois dog who is trained to track humans. She has been working with Colin since June 2018 and was trained at the Southern African Wildlife College with financial support of the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust.

The EWT is proud to be associated with such a dedicated team and salutes everyone who was involved in this well-coordinated effort in the dark, in Big Five country.

Conservation Canine Annie’s hander Colin is urgently looking for a chest-mounted GoPro camera in order to record this kind of operation, for training and law enforcement purposes. If you would like to donate one, please contact Ashleigh Dore on AshleighD@ewt.org.za

The EWT Conservation Canine Project is supported by US Fish and Wildlife Service, Royal Canin, MyPlanet Rhino Fund, Relate Trust, SBV, and several generous individuals.
Nhongo Safaris supports all efforts of anti poaching. For more info on our “Rhino Care Package”, where you can see an anti poaching team at work, visit our website at www.nhongosafaris.com for more information. If you would like to come on our "Rhino Care Package".

Annie The Anti Poaching Dog

RHINO POACHER WHO SHOT AT HELICOPTER WAS SENTENCED FOR 33 YEARS

Friday 9 November 2018: When Mozambican Patrick Nkuna entered Skukuza court today, he did so with the weight of doom on his shoulders. After a slew of tactical delays dating back to his arrest in November 2015, including his demand for better Shangaan interpreters on three previous occasions, he could no longer outrun the consequences of his actions. As I looked into his eyes, hollowed and without emotion, it was as if he had already accepted his fate.

Trial would proceed today with the formidable senior state prosecutor Ansie Venter calling up the first witness, SanParks helicopter pilot Bradford Grafton. In a dramatic testimony, the pilot with 18 years experience described how the accused was finally apprehended after a long chase that began with a sighting of poachers in the Pretoriouskop area. At the time, Bradford was carrying a SANParks delegation on board, which included General Johan Jooste, Kruger South Regional Ranger Don English, CEO Fundisile Mketeni, and one board member, Mr India.

Grafton and English flew north to try locate the poachers and slow them down until the field rangers could catch up. “After about 1 to 1.5 kilometres, Mr English instructed me to turn back. As we began to turn around I saw three men hiding under a fallen tree,” continued Grafton in his testimony. “I indicated I had seen the suspects and I descended lower towards them. As we were orbiting, the suspects realised they had been seen. One suspect pointed a rifle at the helicopter at a distance of 20 to 30 metres from us.”

“He’s going to shoot!” recalls the helicopter pilot echoing his words at the time. “A shot rang out and English returned fire. The suspect with the rifle turned and ran. The three poachers scattered in different directions. We decided to follow the shooter. Then he suddenly slowed down and turned towards us as if he might shoot again.”

At this point, Don English opened fire beside him, provoking the suspect to drop his rifle and run. They pursued, with field rangers gaining ground.

“The suspect was ducking and diving into bushes and behind trees, and we were so close we could make out his face and eyes. Mr English shouted at him to stop.”

Senior state prosecutor Ansie Venter interrupted the testimony to ask Grafton if the suspect was in the room. “Yes, mam, this man to my left,” he said, pointing to Patrick Nkuna.

But the suspect ignored the warnings from the anti poaching rangers, and he continued to run. This continued for a couple hundred metres until the helicopter was able to fly ahead and drop into a dry stream bed. Don English gestured to the suspect to walk towards the chopper. As he was just within reach, again he ran into the bushes. They immediately got airborne, and as the ‘cat and mouse’ chase continued, English jumped off the helicopter with the suspect unaware. The chopper was then able to manoeuvre in front of the suspect in a clearing.

“I flew low, half a metre to the ground. General Jooste was shouting at the suspect to stop. As he was turning around to see what was behind him, I used the skids of the helicopter to knock him on his shoulders, and as he stumbled, Mr English came up from behind. There was a struggle and he was apprehended.”

Recorded in court today, a single bullet shot might have caused the fifty million rand helicopter to crash and kill all the passengers in the process.

Trial was cut short just before the testimony of Don English was due to begin, when the accused Patrick Nkuna asked for a break to talk with his attorney. They returned with a guilty plea.

Nkuna was charged with 12 counts, including four counts of attempted murder, trespassing in a National Park, and possession of an illegal firearm. He was sentenced to more than 40 years, and 33 years and three months effectively.

Since this 2015 incident, the helicopter has been shot at in another four separate incidents by poachers. Earlier this week, on Monday November 5, the chopper and the fixed wing plane came under fire again.

This verdict by Magistrate Cloete sends out a clear message to the most ruthless of poachers. It comes exactly one week after Magistrate Ngobeni in the White River court granted bail to the two alleged kingpins of Kruger, Petros Sydney Mabuza aka “Mr Big” and Joseph Nyalunga aka “Big Joe”. This bizarre judgement passed by Magistrate Ngobeni was a devastating blow to anti poaching efforts, and a reminder that corruption is the biggest thief of all.

Today a battle is won, tomorrow the war continues. Every day rangers wake up, not knowing if today is the day they draw their last breath. The least we can do is honour them with justice. And never, ever give up on the pursuit of justice.

In the wake of “Mr Big” and “Big Joe’ being granted bail, Saving the Wild is now moving in on Kruger. Join the crusade against corruption on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram #StopRhinoKingpins.

Jamie Joseph & JusticeForRhinos

We at Nhongo Safaris support Jamie totally in her endeavors. Take a look at our website www.nhongosafaris.com or go to "5 Day Rhino Sanctuary Kruger Safari" for our exclusive Rhino Care Safari, where you can learn about these wonderful animals. 

SANParks Helicopter with Response Team

Southern White Rhino

Patrick Nkuna

SANParks Chopper on Ground

Rhino Sanctuary and Kruger National Park Safari

Hi There Everybody

Rhino Calf getting worked on

Over the years Nhongo Safaris has been working very closely with "Care For Wild", the world's largest "Rhino Sanctuary", situated in the lowveld region of South Africa. Nhongo Safaris has been donating money for years to this establishment, and through our close relationship, we have seen the building of "Rhino View House", were we are able to take a maximum of six guests at a time to spend two nights at the orphanage, were you can do some activities "Rhino Orphanage" that has a signed MOU with SANParks, as all rhino calves are brought to the orphanage with SANParks Helicopters under the supervision of a Parks Ranger and state veterinarian.
while visiting there. These activities have been set out in such a way, that we can show you what it is like to run a orphanage of this magnitude. Care For Wild is the only orphanage is the only

This safari has been put together so as to not cause any stress to the rhino's on the property, but will give the visiting guest, the maximum exposure to the current plight of the African Rhino.

After your trip to "Care For Wild, your guide will load you onto one of our purpose build open safari vehicles, and drive you to the Kruger National Park, were you will enjoy the next few days, doing some wonderful game viewing, and been able to see rhino's that you have seen at the orphanage, now in the wild, doing what they do naturally.

This is a very special safari, only offered by Nhongo Safaris, as we are the only company with permission to conduct this safari.
For more info on this safari, please visit https://www.nhongosafaris.com/exclusive-5-day-rhino-sanctuary-kruger-safari or you can send an email to cro@nhongosafaris.com 

Another Arrival of a victim of poaching arrives at "Care For Wild".

Busy working on the new inhabitant that has arrived.