Working With Rhinos


Working with rhinos is a truly enlightening experience, offering the once in a lifetime opportunity of witnessing incredible wildlife as well as learning why these animals are in need of help. Most importantly, volunteering allows you to make a lasting impact on rhino conservation.

Rhinos are in dire need of volunteers to help provide them with a sustainable future, safe from poaching and habitat loss which pose the biggest threats to them. With The Great Projects, we offer you the chance to work with rhinos on a range of different conservation projects in a variety of stunning locations in the African bush from Zululand to South Africa!

The price of a rhino horn falls around $100,000 per kilogram on the black market, and this led to more than 1000 rhinos being slaughtered in South Africa in 2017 alone. This is an inexcusable trade that must be stopped, and by dedicating your time to work with rhinos you will play an active role in this cause.

What many people do not realise, is that rhinos are an umbrella species within their ecosystem. Their survival or demise has a knock-on effect on other species in their habitat, from birds to a variety of different mammals.

Take a look at our rhino conservation projects and get in touch today to play your part!

 

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Rhinos At A Glance

ENDANGERED STATUS
Endangered/ Critically Endangered
NUMBER REMAINING IN THE WILD
Around 29,000
ENDEMIC REGION
Africa and Asia

How Endangered Are Rhinos

All five species of rhino are classed as critically endangered. The tiny population of Javan rhinos – standing at around 58-61 individuals - makes it the rarest large land animal on Earth.

There are approximately 100 Sumatran rhinos remaining, and the Greater One-Horned rhino has a population of around 3,300 individuals. The more commonly known White rhino has a population of around 21,077 and the Black rhino is estimated to have around 5,455 individuals remaining.

Of course, the death of the last male Northern White rhino, Sudan early in 2018 marked a tragic day in the conservation world and back in 2011, we saw the complete extinction of the Western Black rhino. 

Threats Rhinos Are Facing

While rhinos are very large and very strong, they are extremely vulnerable to human interference. Some of the threats rhinos face from humans are:

  • Poaching – rhino poaching is relentless in Africa and Asia and thousands are killed each year. Some poachers tragically even make it into protected land to get to the animals and will harm those who stand in their way.
  • Habitat Loss – much of rhino habitat has been cleared for human settlement and logging as the human population increases. This is further limiting the already small land mass available for rhinos to live on and can pose a detriment to their survival.
  • Climate Change - rhinos need specific land conditions in order to breed and give birth. Climate change is altering these conditions and can cause a further decline in rhino populations.
Fast Facts
  • Rhinos have existed for around 60 million years, and their appearance may cause some to believe that they are related to dinosaurs. However, the closest relatives to the rhino are tapirs and horses!
  • The oxpecker bird is a welcome passenger on the rhino’s back as it picks parasitic ticks out of the rhino’s skin. The birds also provide another service to the giants as they are known to screech loudly when humans approach.
  • Since the 1970s and 1980s, scientists estimate that there has been an 85% decline in rhino populations.
Where you can go
Contact Info
UK Office
The Great Traveller Ltd,
3 Dairy Yard
Star Street
Ware, Hertfordshire
SG12 7DX
United Kingdom

Opening hours:
   Mon-Fri 8:30am–5:30pm
   Sat 10am-4pm

T: +44(0) 208 885 4987