We awarded $5,000 to Mazingira Yetu, the conservation education program run by Borana Conservancy in Kenya, thanks to a donation from Mr. Steve Kemler. The purpose of Mazingira Yetu, which means “Our environment in KiSwahili, is to: “Provide place-based, mutual, and holistic education focused on regenerative, action-based approaches, inspiring communities to take an active role in securing global ecosystem health.” By engaging neighboring communities, MY enhances local stakeholders’ (teachers, youth, adults) understanding of conservation and strengthens support for regenerative land stewardship. The key focus is safeguarding the long-term health of the Borana ecosystem, both for local people and for keystone species like the black rhino.

$2,000 was sent to Save the Rhino International, which had provided a London Marathon charity Gold Bond place for 2025 runner Luke Raimondo.

Finally, we sent the first instalment of $4,000, from a total grant of $12,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation, be used to help cover the costs of Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism annual rhino operations: translocations, retrievals and dehorning.

We sent the final instalment of $4,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation’s grant to help cover the costs of the 15th meeting of the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group.

$2,600 was sent to Save the Rhino International, which had provided London Marathon charity Gold Bond places for 2025 runners Ben Potter and Michaela Davis.

We sent the second of three instalments from a total $12,000 grant from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation to help cover the costs of the 15th meeting of the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group, which took place in February 2025 at Bonamanzi Game Reserve. Members enjoyed field trips to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Somkhanda Game Reserve. Donor funds were used to pay for Members’ international / national flights, local bus transfers, and the meeting venue (board, lodging and conference facilities).

March to the Top awarded another of its annual grants of $10,000 to the ForRangers initiative, which aims to improve rangers’ welfare, and thus ensure that they will feel invested in their work. With their families looked after and better equipment to do their job, they will be safer, happier, more effective and ultimately less likely to help poaching syndicates out of desperation. ForRangers’ grants support: medical (including clinic or hospital cover, life insurance); uniforms and wellbeing (e.g. gym equipment, entertainment, motivational trips); equipment (law enforcement and wildlife monitoring); living standards (accommodation, ablutions blocks, solar power, mess and kitchen or canteen); training (e.g. law enforcement, First Aid, fitness, financial literacy); and other (e.g. one-off emergency funding).

The Bently Foundation, which had previously stepped in to assist field programs in Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic, by offering a challenge grant of $500,000 to help cover core, critical operating costs, very generously awarded a grant of $147,500 to a number of field programs supported by SRI Inc., that all had their 2025 grants from US Fish and Wildlife Service frozen due to the President’s Executive Order, “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, along with the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance”, which directed that all recipients must stop work on their financial assistance award and all project activities be paused.

Bently Foundation’s grant was allocated as follows:

$4,667 to help cover the cost of the AfRSG’s Scientific Officer’s daily consultancy fees
$4,960 to be used to help cover the annual salary of the Association of Private and community Land Rhino Sanctuaries’ Administrator in Kenya
$10,500 for the repair of the predator-proof fence that surrounds Borana Conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya
$12,471 for the replacement of uniforms, including boots and jackets, for 20 of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy’s rangers
$10,347 to help cover the cost of rations for Ol Jogi’s rangers, to provide essential nutrition for proper sustenance and energy levels for field operations, and to boost ranger morale by providing quality food items. The rations include rice, sugar, tea leaves, cooking oil, maize flour, biscuits, corned beff, tinned and fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, beef/mutton, and salt
A total of $30,137 for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to be used to help cover the cost of its annual rhino operations: translocations, retrievals and dehorning. So far, we have spent: $8,131.39 to pay for repairs to the Game Capture Truck, which will be needed in June by the MEFT, to assist with rhino translocations; $1,665.66 to pay for fuel for the trucks being used by MEFT to transport rhinos from Etosha NP to Mangetti NP, and from Waterberg Plateau Park to Etosha NP; $1,607.33 to pay Swavet for drugs used by vets when immobilizing rhino; and $3,905.62 to pay for 5 x air-ground Icom radios, used whenever fixed-wing or rotary aircraft need to communicate with ground crews during rhino operations
$24,853 for Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia: $15,653 to be used for trackers’ salaries, and $9,200 for fuel for the vehicles used in field deployments
$27,750 for Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa: $12,745 to be used for the repairs, maintenance, upkeep and fuel for six vehicles; and $15,005 for the annual replacement of basic uniforms for 130 field rangers
And $21,315 to be used for the annual replacement of uniforms for 75 field rangers, including boots and jackets, in uMkhuze Game Reserve.

Meanwhile, the first of three installments of the next $12,000 grant from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation was sent to help cover the costs of the 15th meeting of the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group, which took place in February 2025 at Bonamanzi Game Reserve. Members enjoyed field trips to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Somkhanda Game Reserve. Donor funds were used to pay for Members’ international / national flights, local bus transfers, and the meeting venue (board, lodging and conference facilities).

The third and final instalment of $4,000 (see January 2025) from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation’s grant for uMkhuze Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was sent to help cover the salary of the Rhino Monitor.

The third and final installment of $50,000, from a 3-year grant from Conservation Nation, was awarded for Y3 of the project entitled “Breaking barriers to create female participation in natural resource management”, which will run from Jan-Dec 2025. Specifically, this project seeks to increase female representation in the wildlife protection sector in North Luangwa by focusing on: Salaries of Menstrual Health Mentors ($2,400); Travel for meetings, spousal visits into the Park etc. ($10,400); Training – train-the-trainer fitness instruction, and gender and empowerment ($18,500); Supplies – office and admin supplies, and vehicle running costs ($6,600); Equipment for conservation (speaker system, chairs etc., $9,100); and Gender Diversity & Inclusion Officer operating expenses ($3,000).

We sent $40,000 from the Woodtiger Fund for Y3 of the 3-year $97,000 project entitled: “Increasing the effectiveness of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park’s K9 Unit”. These funds will be used to pay for: the salaries of the K9 Unit Coordinator and an additional handler; provide ongoing training of dogs and handlers; maintaining the K9 unit vehicle; replace vehicle tires as necessary; maintaining the K9 unit’s camp; purchasing veterinary supplies as needed; providing and replacing equipment; and for Wildlife ACT to administer and report on the project.

Thanks to the continued generosity of the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation, we were able to send the second installment of $4,000 – part of a total grant of $12,000 – to uMkhuze Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to help cover the salary of the Rhino Monitor, who monitors the Reserve’s black and white rhino populations, which are then used to inform management, e.g. which animals to translocate to other areas as part of the WWF-Black Rhino Range Expansion Project.

A grant of $100 from The Jon and Carol Sudman Charitable Trust was sent to Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) in Namibia. SRT’s trackers patrol an area some 25,000 km2 in the northwest of Namibia, where they monitor the Kunene Region’s free-ranging black rhinos. Costs include the trackers’ salaries and field rations, fuel and maintenance for the support vehicles, as well as uniforms, communications equipment etc.

We sent a further $8,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation to the African Rhino Specialist Group, specifically, to help cover the costs of the meeting taking place in February 2025 at Bonamanzi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The Board awarded a grant of $17,130 from core funds to pay for the costs of a workshop being held in early February 2025, for a small group of individuals (geneticists, conservation leaders, specialists) to draft a “straw dog” set of guidelines for a) the movement and assembly rules for black rhinos in Africa and b) essential genetic monitoring to inform continental rhino movement decisions. These guidelines will be presented to the participants of the IUCN/SSC AfRSG meeting at the end of February 2025 for debate, comment and adoption. Once this process is complete, both sets of guidelines will be circulated to all relevant stakeholders.

Another grant from core funds, of $7,250, was awarded to pay half the cost of developing a new website for the Rhino Resource Center; the remaining funding required has been sourced by the RRC’s Director, Kees Rookmaaker.

The Board awarded $50,000, from a donation of $150,000 from an anonymous donor, to Save the Rhino International in the UK. The original donation had been made in honor of SRI’s former CEO, now Grants Lead, Cathy Dean, receiving an MBE in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honors. The use of the grant will be determined by SRI’s Trustees.

Thanks to the monthly grants received from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation, we sent $4,000 for the African Rhino Specialist Group, specifically, to help cover the costs of the meeting taking place in February 2025 at Bonamanzi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. These meetings occur every three years and capture the latest data and information needed for the AfRSG, AsRSG and TRAFFIC reports to CITES, in advance of each Conference of the Parties, as well as providing an opportunity for AfRSG Members and invited Observers to exchange information and ideas about rhino conservation targets, actions and priorities.

We sent $75,000, the second of two instalments from the Woodtiger Fund’s grant, to help pay for the ongoing follow-the-money investigation being carried out by KPMG South Africa in conjunction with the South African Police Service and other state agencies.

We sent the second and third instalments of $4,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation to cover ongoing maintenance costs and other occasional costs in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa, for which there is no allocated departmental budget.

$355,000 from an anonymous donor, together with another $10,000 from March to the Top, was sent to the ForRangers initiative managed by Save the Rhino International. These grants were used to pay for the following: $101,666.40 for the renewal (13 June 2024-12 June 2025) of the VIVA 365 Group Life Insurance Policy and Medical Evacuation through AMREF for nearly 5,000 rangers working in sub-Saharan Africa; and $242,000 for a comprehensive annual training programme, during the period June 2024-May 2026, for 80-100 rangers working at Sosian Ranch, Suyian Ranch, Ol Maisor, Mugie Conservancy, Lolldaiga and Ole Naishu Conservancy. Training will cover: basic fitness, human rights, weapons safety, rules of engagement, basic First Aid, reactive operations and observation / surveillance. The balance is being held on account pending future funding requests.

We sent $4,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation and $3,333 from The Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation to cover ongoing maintenance costs and other occasional costs in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa, for which there is no allocated departmental budget. Typical emergency requirements include: Equipment repairs and maintenance (e.g. boreholes, pumps, generators, geysers and water filters); repairs to vehicles that get damaged, as departmental budgets are severely constrained; perimeter fence repairs (whether due to flooding or vandalism); replacement of small items of equipment needed to keep Park operations functional (e.g. camera-trap batteries, cables); repairs to the repeaters in the Park, and cement to patch potholes; transport costs to obtain routine services, quotes, callouts; and fixing emergency electrical issues.

We sent another $3,333 from The Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation (the other half of its grant) to cover the replacement and repair of equipment items in uMkhuze Game Reserve in South Africa.

$2,550 was sent to Save the Rhino International, which had provided a London Marathon charity Gold Bond place for 2024 runner Kimberley Siane Snyder.

From SRI Inc.’s own core funds, we awarded $50,000 for the next in a series of workshops for people working in canine units. These workshops involve participants from a wide range of conservation programs across southern and eastern Africa, and Asia, and expert speakers from all over the world. This next workshop will include practical training, detection, and tracking sessions, veterinary care, welfare, husbandry, conditioning and fitness and law-enforcement

And also from SRI Inc.’s own core funds, we were delighted to send $45,600 towards the Y1 costs of the rhino monitoring and security project in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, being run in partnership between SRI, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZNW) and Wildlife ACT. Specifically, this grant will cover the refurbishment of accommodation to be dedicated to the expanded rhino monitoring unit, and for Wildlife ACT’s costs incurred in administrating and reporting on this project.

The second of three instalments of $4,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation was sent to help pay for 64 pairs of Altberg boots, and shipping, for rangers working at Ol Jogi Conservancy.

$3,000 from the Reid Burns Foundation was sent to Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia to help pay for water provision in the rhino range. As the drought worsens, it is useful to have some funds available for pump replacements, hydrological assessments etc.

$3,850 was sent to Save the Rhino International, which had provided a London Marathon charity Gold Bond place for 2024 runner Noah Barney.

$4,000 from Kevin and Laura Francis was sent to the Borana Education Support Program, which aims to provide holistic conservation education and awareness to schools and communities in Borana’s immediate neighborhood. During 2023, the BESP continued to provide bursaries to 59 students and support the salaries of 13 teachers, whilst also continuing to support infrastructure at the 10 BESP supported schools within Borana’s neighborhood. Most recently, the BESP has been supporting these schools with the construction of ablution blocks; classrooms; canteens; boarding facilities; boreholes; water storage methods; playground equipment and electric fences. During 2023, two interns who had been part of the BESP completed internships with the Mazingira Yetu team.

$4,000 from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation was sent to help pay for 64 pairs of Altberg boots, & shipping, for rangers working at Ol Jogi Conservancy. Boots are an essential item for working rangers, helping them to carry out their duties efficiently but in comfort. The Conservancy recently acquired the next set of uniforms for its rangers, except for boots. The team has tried several suppliers in the past but many of their products scarcely last more than a year. The desired Altberg boots usually last up to four years – even in these difficult conditions – compared to other brands, which often barely last one year.

$120 was sent to Save the Rhino International, which had provided a London Marathon charity Gold Bond place for 2024 runner Jennifer Tesdahl.

The Wildcat Foundation’s 2-year grant for the North Luangwa Conservation Programme in Zambia enabled us to send $527,160 for law-enforcement activities in North Luangwa National Park: salaries for Village Game Scouts and the Strategic Law-Enforcement Technical Advisor; training; incentives for excellent performance; vehicle fuel maintenance; and aerial surveillance (Cessna fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter).

We sent $75,000 for law-enforcement upgrades in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, thanks to a new grant from Ardea Cares. Specifically, the grant will pay for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, including data, license fee and access by six users, and ~90 security cameras (camera traps plus solar-powered battery packs) to be positioned in poaching hotspots in the Park.

Another grant of $50,000 from Ardea Cares was allocated to KPMG in South Africa, for its work on Project Blood Orange, the follow-the-money investigation into a South African rhino horn poaching and trafficking syndicate.

And finally, another $25,000 from Ardea Cares was sent to help cover the costs of Y3 of the “Changing China” project. This aims to strengthen the legal regime in China pertaining to wildlife protection, through support of local actors, direct advocacy and provision of expertise, with the eventual aim of stopping all trade in rhino and tiger parts in China. Its objectives are: to advocate for the adoption of a new State Council order and/or amendments to China’s wildlife laws; to encourage and amplify diverse voices calling for an end to trade in threatened wildlife; and to undertake research and produce analysis to support policy recommendations.

A $1,500 donation from Alex Beard was sent to the ForRangers initiative, set up by Sam Taylor and Pete Newland. By improving rangers’ welfare, they will feel invested in their work; with their families looked after and better equipment to do their job, they will be safer, happier, more effective and ultimately less likely to help poaching syndicates out of desperation. ForRangers’ grants support the following areas: Medical (including clinic or hospital cover, life insurance); Uniforms and wellbeing (e.g. gym equipment, entertainment, motivational trips); Equipment (law enforcement and wildlife monitoring); Living standards (accommodation, ablutions blocks, solar power, mess and kitchen or canteen); Training (e.g. law enforcement, First Aid, fitness, financial literacy); and Other (e.g. one-off emergency funding).

The second installment of $4,000 (see January 2024) from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation was sent to uMkhuze Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to help cover the salary of the Rhino Monitor.

A first (of three) installments from the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation was sent to Ol Jogi Conservancy in Kenya, where the funds will pay for 64 pairs of Altberg boots, and shipping, for rangers working at the Conservancy. Boots are an essential item for working rangers, helping them to carry out their duties efficiently but in comfort. The Conservancy recently acquired the next set of uniforms for its rangers, except for boots. The team has tried several suppliers in the past but many of their products scarcely last more than a year. The desired Altberg boots usually last up to four years – even in these difficult conditions – compared to other brands, which often barely last one year. The Conservancy has managed to obtain a sizeable discount from the supplier.

We sent $37,000 from the Woodtiger Fund for Y2 of the 3-year $97,000 project entitled: “Increasing the effectiveness of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park’s K9 Unit”. These funds will be used to pay for: the salary of the K9 Unit Coordinator; ongoing training of dogs and handlers; maintaining the K9 unit vehicle; replacing vehicle tires as necessary; maintaining the K9 unit’s camp; purchasing veterinary supplies as needed; providing and replacing equipment; and administering and reporting on the project.

The second installment of $50,000, from a 3-year grant from Conservation Nation, was awarded for Y2 of the project entitled “Breaking barriers to create female participation in natural resource management”, which will run from Jan-Dec 2024. Specifically, this project seeks to increase female representation in the wildlife protection sector in North Luangwa by focusing on: Salaries of Community Conservation Educators ($2,400); Travel for meetings, spousal visits into the Park etc. ($23,820); Training – train-the-trainer fitness instruction, girls’ clubs, gender-based violence training, and menstrual hygiene management ($5,000); Supplies – office and admin supplies, design and printing of awareness materials and Ufulu period pads ($11,130); and fitness clothing for trainers, staff, spouses’ fitness groups and vulnerable groups ($7,650).

send $4,000 – part of a total grant of $12,000 – to uMkhuze Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to help cover the salary of the Rhino Monitor, who monitors the Reserve’s black and white rhino populations, which are then used to inform management, e.g. which animals to translocate to other areas as part of the WWF-Black Rhino Range Expansion Project.