Category Archives: Blog

Giraffe
Categories Game

The quiet disappearance of our giraffes

Africa’s giraffe populations are quietly diminishing. Known as the “silent extinction”, 40% of giraffes have vanished since the 1980s. Where once the continent was teeming with these graceful giants, only 68 000 now remain. Like most other species, habitat loss, poaching and the effects of civil unrest threaten their survival.
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black rhinos on grass
Categories Conservation Rhinos

Africa’s Black Rhino Population Doubles

In the late 1800s, about 850 000 black rhinos existed in Africa. But, due to unregulated killing, only 100 000 remained by 1960. By 1995, just 2410 black rhinos remained. However, Africa’s black rhino population has more than doubled since the 1990s. Could we finally be seeing a payoff to decades of committed rhino conservation?
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wildlife conservation
Categories Conservation Rhinos

Wildlife Conservation Victim of Pandemic

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, many of China's wet markets (where animals are sold as food or pets) were shut down. 'Wildlife' markets, on the other hand, sell live wild animals (often illegally obtained). The commercial sale of wild animals for pets, traditional medicines, or ornamental uses has not been outlawed.
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Rockwood Conservation Rhino Nursery 5
Categories Rhinos

The Rhino Diet – A Closer Look At The 5 Species

With their massive bodies, thick, folded skins and facial horns, the rhinoceros (“rhinos” meaning “nose” and “keras” meaning “horn of an animal” in Greek) has fascinated humans from the earliest times. Read on for an overview of these incredible animals, and for a closer look at each of the five remaining rhino species’ diets.
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Rockwood Conservation Rhino Nursery 3
Categories Conservation Rhinos

Is Private Conservation the Last Hope?

From a population of around 10 000 white rhinos and 600 black rhinos in 2010, the numbers are now down to approximately 3 549 white rhinos and 268 black rhinos. Most rhinos were poached in Kruger National Park. If this trend continues, the entire rhino population currently protected by Kruger might be wiped out by 2030.
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Rhino Conservation
Categories Conservation Rhinos

2020 Conservation Success Stories

2020 hasn’t been easy for anyone — the effects of Covid-19 reached far and wide, and were felt in the realm of rhino conservation too. But, no matter what challenges come our way, we persevere and give our all to saving the Southern white rhino. We'd like to share nine conservation success stories from Rockwood for 2020.
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Rockwood Megamaster Fire balls
Categories Conservation Rockwood

Leading Grill Company, Megamaster, Gets Involved

We're always looking for new ways to initiate rhino conservation. So when South Africa's leading grill company, Megamaster, approached us about a collaboration, we were super excited. The key ingredient in Megamaster's innovative new eco-friendly firelighter, called Rhino Balls, is our very own rhinos' dung.
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RHINO POACHING
Categories Conservation Rhinos

South Africa Boasts Decline In Rhino Poaching

South Africa’s recently released rhino poaching statistics confirm a drop in the country’s rhino poaching numbers. The numbers reveal a 26% decline from 769 rhinos poached in 2018, to 564 poached in 2019. As the fifth consecutive year to reflect a downward trend in poached rhinos, this is very good news for rhino conservation.
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white rhino
Categories Conservation Rhinos

Science To Save The White Rhino

In a significant breakthrough for rhino conservation, scientists have successfully created three northern white rhino embryos. With the last remaining male northern white rhino dying in 2018 and only two critically endangered females left in the world, this is a massive step for the subspecies’ survival. Can the white rhino be saved?
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VOLUNTEERING TO SAVE WHITE RHINO
Categories Conservation Rockwood Volunteering

Volunteer Your Gap Year To Save The White Rhino

Using your gap year to volunteer for a cause in need is a sure way to find out who you really are. As Mahatma Gandhi said: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” So, where do you want to lose yourself? With 1 million species now critically endangered, our wildlife needs all the help it can get.
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volunteering
Categories Conservation Rockwood Volunteering

Wildlife Voluntourism Is The Ideal Opportunity

With over-population and climate change threatening almost all forms of life on Earth today, the list for needy causes is endless. Wildlife volunteering helps out conservations more than the eye can see. But how do you choose which one of the many conservation efforts in South Africa needs your time the most?
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SAVE THE SOUTHERN WHITE RHINO
Categories Conservation Rockwood Volunteering

Become A Philanthropist At Rockwood

Nature is declining globally at previously unimagined rates. One million species are careering toward extinction. How can you help end one of Africa's most urgent wildlife crises? It doesn't mean you have to donate financially. One of the best ways to contribute to real change in the world is to volunteer your time.
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Rockwood Conservation Rhino Nursery 2
Categories Conservation Rhinos

How Many Rhinos Are Left?

The three rhino subspecies in Asia, two of which, the Javan and Sumatran rhino, are listed as critically endangered. Estimates put their numbers at fewer than a hundred. The world’s last male northern white rhino died on 20 March 2018. His female and daughter are still alive, but no further breeding is now possible.
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stopping poaching
Categories Conservation Hunting Rhinos

Does Hunting Rhinos Help Conserve Them?

South African Minister of Environment, Barbara Creecy, has proposed increasing the yearly number of black rhinos that can be hunted from five to a maximum of 10 animals. Thankfully, a permitting and monitoring system is in place – stipulating that only older, post-reproductive or 'problem' bulls are permitted.
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volunteer in africa
Categories Rockwood Volunteering

Wish To Volunteer In Africa? Pack Your Bags!

Are you inquisitive? Do you love change, adventure and discovering new places, new horizons and new ways of looking at the world? Most importantly, do you care? South Africa is home to some of Africa's most important conservation projects where wildlife experts are fighting the threats to wildlife and biodiversity daily.
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rhino volunteering
Categories Tourism Volunteering

7 Things You Need To Know Before Volunteering Abroad

Deciding to volunteer abroad is a big step. You choose to spend your time on a cause instead of a vacation with your friends or family. Volunteering means putting yourself and what you want aside and instead focus on the needs of others, animals or communities. So, you should find a cause you care about sincerely.
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Rhino Watching
Categories Tourism Volunteering

Choosing A Travel Agency To South Africa

So you’ve decided on South Africa for your next adventure, but the offers and ads that Google spits out from travel websites, airlines and tour companies are quite overwhelming. We might be able to help with some inside advice. Read on to find out how to choose the right travel agency while avoiding tourist traps.
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VOLUNTEER PROJECTS
Categories Rockwood Volunteering

Safe Volunteer Projects With Rockwood

When considering volunteering projects abroad, it’s essential to know what you’re getting yourself in to. Supporting local projects gives you the chance to get to see a country from a different perspective – but it needs to be a safe and healthy environment. There are a lot of stereotypes about Africa, but what’s the reality?
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Rockwood Conservation Rhino Nursery
Categories Conservation Rhinos

Why Become A Philanthropist For Rhinos

The reasons for becoming a philanthropist are easy enough to understand. Most of us genuinely want to make the world a better place. It’s also a well-known fact, doing good feels good. It’s probably one of our most human traits. Helping others with no obvious benefit to ourselves is what separates us from every other species.
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donation to save rhinos
Categories Conservation Rhinos Rockwood

How Your Donation Saves Rhinos At Rockwood

No matter where they are in the world, you can join the fight to save the African rhino. Apart from visiting us as a tourist or volunteer, you can sponsor a rhino or donate towards their care. We provide a detailed breakdown of what it takes to care for rhinos, so you know that your donation goes directly towards conservation.
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Rhino Interaction
Categories Blog Conservation Rhinos Rockwood

LEAD A Fulfilling Life By Giving Back To Nature

There are two things every single person in the world has in common – the planet we live on and a choice. We can choose to be seeds – small yet significant and full of potential. Or we can be parasites – self-serving, destructive, harming the very host keeping us alive, the Earth. We can choose to give more or take more.
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VOLUNTEER IN AFRICA
Categories Blog Conservation Rhinos Rockwood Volunteering

Volunteer At Rockwood And Help Save The Rhino

Rockwood owner, Wicus, and his teams of rangers are on guard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help protect rhinos. Health checks and collecting blood, milk and many other samples for research takes whole teams of research scientists, students, rangers and volunteers. You can help too by volunteering to work at Rockwood.
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Rockwood Conservation Rhino Nursery 4
Categories Blog Conservation Rhinos

Rhino Poaching

Rhinos sit at the top of the food chain since they have no natural predators. Yet, poaching is driving an entire species to extinction for body parts. Over the last 20 years, we’ve discovered just how much a single species disappearing from an area can create unpredictable imbalances in an ecosystem.
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Categories Blog

Sponsor Rhino Ranger Thomas

MEET RHINO RANGER THOMAS Job Title: Rhino Ranger Years at Rockwood: Five Without Him: Our rhinos would be far more vulnerable to poachers THE STORY OF THOMAS Years before Thomas...
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Categories Blog

Sponsor Rhino Carer Ciska

MEET RHINO CARER CISKA Job Title: Conservation Scientist Years at Rockwood: Five Without Her: Our orphan rhinos might not survive THE STORY OF CISKA Originally from the Netherl...
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