Rhinos’ Last Stand | Briefing Document

What Is The Rhino Treatment? 

Rhinos’ Last Stand is a global effort to save the rhino from the brink of extinction. Out of six subspecies of rhino in Africa, the West African Rhino was declared extinct in November 2011 and the Northern White Rhino only has two females left. This is due to the population figures continuing to fall as a result of poaching.

This project has been years in the making and we believe it really is the last chance that we have to save the rhino and ensure that this magnificent creature continues to roam the earth, not just during our lifetime, but for generations to come.

We’ve joined forces with a range of experts across areas as diverse as DNA, anaesthetics, poaching, and smuggling – as well as veterinarians and animal welfare experts of course. Together we have committed to protecting the future legacy of the rhino in Africa and beyond. 

In short, we have formed a team of like-minded and passionate individuals who have the combined technology, expertise and resources to save the species and put an end to the carnage once and for all.

The solution we’ve created is unique and works by treating a rhino horn with four substances — infusion of an habitat friendly anti-parasitic (toxic to humans), an indelible pink dye to signal a horn as unfit for human consumption, a forensic DNA taggant which is unique to every single rhino treated and establishes where it came from, and a UV marker which enables quick detection of forensic DNA.

This procedure renders a rhino horn valueless once it’s been taken from the animal, so the financial incentive for poachers to kill rhinos is completely removed. Our strategy also vastly increases the risk to poachers (and those involved in the process) of being arrested and convicted. Therefore, poaching the rhino for its horn becomes high risk and there’s no reward.

In order to protect the rhino and provide a more secure future for them on this planet, experts suggest we need to save is 2,500. So this is our plan — to treat 2,500 live rhinos across South Africa.

What’s Our Purpose?

Poaching is rife and the situation is critical (Save The Rhino):

●        Javan Rhino | 69 (critically endangered)

●        Sumatran Rhino | <80 (critically endangered)

●        Black Rhino | 5,366 - 5,627 (critically endangered)

●        Greater One Horned Rhino | <3,500 (vulnerable)

●        White Rhino | 17,212 - 18,915 (near threatened)

The lack of tracking or traceability of the horn means it’s incredibly hard to prosecute those responsible for poaching or illegally trading poached rhino horn, or identify the origin of the rhino (and the property on which it was poached).

Significant attempts have been made over the years to stop the poaching of rhinos for their horns, but they’ve focused on more patrols, more guns and more penalties. Unfortunately, they haven’t worked, as the risk of getting caught and convicted was very low. The introduction of traceable, forensic DNA means there’s very high risk to poachers, as the evidence is irrefutable.

Our purpose is to completely overturn the existing failed methods and deploy a solution that is all-encompassing. This innovative solution focuses on sky-rocketing the risks associated with poaching, trading, possessing, or consuming rhino horn. 

What’s the New Solution All About?

Completely unique, our ground-breaking solution works by treating the rhino horn with four substances: the infusion of a habitat friendly anti-parasitic (toxic to humans) and an indelible pink dye which instantly signals that the horn is unfit for human consumption — a major poaching deterrent. A forensic DNA taggant, which is unique to every single rhino treated and establishes where its horn came from (vital in the arrest and conviction of perpetrators). And a UV marker which enables quick detection of the forensic DNA.

All four substances are completely safe for the animals (more on this in the science section later) but the toxin is extremely unpleasant if consumed by humans (removing its viability for use in alternative medicines) and unattractive (removing its aesthetic appeal).

The infusion compounds have been registered as indelible and not intended for consumption by humans (toxic) (as per Act 36 of the 1947 Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act) and whilst not lethal to humans in small quantities, if consumed it can cause nausea, vomiting and convulsions when ingested. (That’s all dose-dependent, of course.)

The forensic DNA and ultraviolet marker are recognised and accepted by many police authorities and are highly effective in reducing crimes including Cash in Transit (CIT) and theft, as well as helping to recover stolen valuables.  

●        Have any trials been done?

The treatment has been trialled and tested on several rhinos in Africa (see details below from April 2019). 

 ●        How much does it cost per infusion?

The cost of infusing a single rhino is between £1,000 and £3,000, including the cost of locating, darting, sedation, providing after-care and ongoing monitoring of the infused rhino. This estimate is based on the first 40 rhinos being infused with our pioneering solution, but these costs are expected to drop even further as we benefit from economies of scale and infuse another 2,460 rhinos.

●        How long does it take to infuse a rhino?

The rhino is immobilised with veterinary sedation via darting, and from this time, to them being back on their feet as normal, takes approximately 45 minutes. The infusion of the back horn takes around 10 minutes and the front horn takes around 20 minutes due to it being slightly bigger.

 ●        How is a rhino sedated?

Rhinos are tracked and then darted either from a vehicle or by a helicopter if it’s unreachable on the ground. The rhinos are darted with a standard veterinary immobilising drug, which allows for them to be blindfolded and their ears to be plugged (to reduce stress and anxiety), and worked on safely during the infusion process.

 ●        Does it cause harm to the rhino?

At all times, the animal’s wellbeing is top-of-mind. The procedure doesn’t cause any pain to the rhino, but we do have to sedate it in order to carry out the process. So while it’s not completely non-invasive, it’s far less invasive than dehorning — which can leave the rhino horn’s growth node so irreparably damaged that the horn will never grow back again, or be severely deformed if it does. 

The infusion ‘cocktail’ is also Oxpecker and Vulture-friendly, and ensures little or no collateral damage to other animals and organisms sharing the rhino’s habitat. The products used are all eco-friendly and biodegradable, so there are no adverse effects on the environment.

●        How many people does it take to infuse a rhino?

Due to the size and weight of the mammal, around five members of our team need to be on hand at the infusion, with support from an additional five to ten volunteers. 

●        Are there any long-lasting effects on the rhino?

There aren’t any long-lasting effects on the rhino. The horn is essentially porous dead tissue and contains no nerve endings or blood flow (like the tips of human fingernails), so the liquids we use cannot enter the animal’s bloodstream. Our custom-designed, high-pressure non-return valve ensures that no liquid can exit through the drill holes after the infusion has taken place. The non-return valve also keeps the liquid in the horn under pressure for up to 10 days, which is important to ensure that it penetrates large areas of the internal horn structure.

●        Is anything else done at the time of infusion?

We’re thinking about the long-term here and ensuring the survival of the rhino, and so we collect a sample of a rhino’s DNA and keep it at a secure central data bank. We’ll then use this data to monitor the breeding patterns of the rhino and its position within the wider analysis of the population. Like humans, every rhino has a unique DNA sequence and it’s imperative that we obtain samples of this at the same time as the infusion is carried out, in order to gain a more in-depth understanding of each individual rhino.

We also insert three microchips into the front horn, the back horn, and the shoulder — like the identification chips used in dogs to trace their owner. They contain a unique identification number, which can also link a rhino and its horn back to a specific property.

The infusions will make the horn unmarketable for human consumption and the forensic DNA (provided by SeekerDNA), provides irrefutable evidence of a crime (something the criminals are fully aware of) and will greatly assist law enforcement in prosecuting those responsible. 

●        How long does the infusion last?

The horn of a rhino continues to grow throughout its lifetime (ranging from 35 and 50 years), and the treatment is expected to last approximately three to four years, at which point the process would need to be repeated. The indelible dye discolours the horn and permeates throughout the internal structure too, so it cannot be removed in any way. This is another benefit of infusion over dehorning — to remain an effective poaching deterrent, dehorning needs to be repeated every 12 to 18 months. Our devaluation procedure lasts twice as long, and means the rhino needs to be immobilised less frequently too.

●        Why not simply apply dye to the surface of the horn as a poaching deterrent?

Rhino horns are not stained pink on their surface as a major deterrent for two primary reasons. The colour would not be visible for long enough, as the animals groom their horns down and wallow in mud on a daily basis, and visibly discolouring horns makes every other animal in a population without a coloured horn an even softer target for poachers.

●        Why isn’t dehorning effective?

The infusion process costs roughly the same as dehorning, but it lasts twice as long (experts recommend dehorning should be completed every 12-18 months, and our devaluation procedure needs repeating every three to four years). It also means the rhino needs to be immobilised less frequently too. We also need to be mindful that many reserves are dependent on tourists as their major source of income, and so the dehorning of animals is not always a practical solution. And even if they are dehorned, the base grows so quickly that they’re rapidly at risk of poaching once again.

Rhinos require their horns for foraging and defence as part of their survival in the wild — so it’s crucial they remain in situ.

●        Where did the idea for the solution come from?

Mike Kendrick is Chairman and CEO of SeekerDNA, and a key member of the team behind Rhinos’ Last Stand. His relationship with Nelson Mandela during his later years saw the former President of South Africa ask Mike to personally look into the situation of rhino poaching and do something about it. He began thoroughly researching the problem, what was being done to protect rhinos, and how forensic DNA was being used to effectively fight crime.

At approximately the same time in 2010, Dr. Lorinda Hern of Rhino Rescue Project had been experimenting with horn devaluation procedures in South Africa. She is one of, if not the, world’s leading experts on treating rhinos, has made it her life’s mission to save the species, and deserves huge praise and recognition. 

Putting two and two together, Mike and Lorinda formed a partnership to combine their expertise and passion in the hopes of devising a completely revolutionary solution. Together, they united leading experts from these fields to form Rhinos’ Last Stand. 

●        Is the treatment legal?

Yes. The infusion methodology is legally recognised by the South African government and permitting authorities. It is also the only poaching intervention which is fully endorsed by the South African insurance industry (i.e. properties on which rhinos have had infusions done can have their animals insured against poaching at no extra charge).

 How else will the infusion deter poachers?

The fact that the rhinos on a reserve are treated is widely publicised by means of 200+ signposts around the reserve’s perimeter and this is often enough to prevent poachers from entering. 

The Rhinos’ Last Stand project will be widely publicised, and locals will be educated about the danger of the treatment to would-be poachers in terms of the dye, anti-parasitic’s toxicity and the forensic DNA infused into the rhino horn.

We also involve staff and local communities in the horn treatment as another way of raising awareness. The infusion process and the escalating risks of poaching will spread through the ‘Bush Telegraph’ astonishingly quickly.

If a treated rhino is poached, the indelible dye inside the horn should also be immediately visible (especially in the channel where it was inserted) – a clear indication that the horn had been treated.  The forensic DNA will also show under a UV torchlight, proving the horn is stolen.

We are constantly experimenting with new visual marking systems, and have most recently seen excellent results from a mixture of colourants, which fluoresce under UV light, as well as contain indestructible DNA markers that bind permanently to the horn material.

●        And how has it got potential to grow?

If one reserve has infused its rhinos, surrounding reserves will naturally want to replicate the process and ensure additional protection for their own premises by implementing the treatments and their associated branding and signage.

How Do You Know it Works?

We’ve been trialling this infusion on the ground in South Africa for several years and in all of that time fewer than 2% of treated animals have been reported as having passed away – either due to natural mortality or at the hands of poachers. Over an eight year period, such successful rates are unheard of, and no other anti-poaching intervention can claim to have protected more animals from poachers.

In a pilot project conducted in 2013 to establish proof of concept, the Rhino Rescue Project team worked with two reserves, which were badly hit by poachers, to trial and test the effectiveness of the process. The graph below was put together independently by the reserves and shows a dramatic drop in both incursions and poaching incidents in the months leading up to, and immediately after, the horn devaluation treatments had been carried out.

And since the establishment of Rhinos’ Last Stand, the solution was once again refined by the addition of the forensic DNA and UV detectors, and tested it again on six rhinos, immediately prior to the launch of the project.

Case Study | Ant’s Nest Private Reserve

❖      Location | Ant’s Nest Private Reserve, Waterberg, Limpopo Province

❖      Date | 12th April 2019

❖      Treatment | Six rhinos treated

❖      Guests | Throughout the day, 30 people came to witness the infusion

❖      Staff Involved | 20           

❖      Others | Four anti-poaching unit members attended

❖      Schools | 11 children from local schools

Specialist team members were present on the day to carry out the infusion of six rhinos on Ant’s Nest Private Reserve, as well as guests, anti-poaching unit members and school children. Ant’s Nest Private Reserve is committed to working with the project and in adopting a novel approach to protect their animals: 

       Max’s Story

All rhinos are special, but Max — one rhino living on the reserve —is more well-loved than most. His mother was poached when he was just a calf at 18 months old. The reserve owners made the difficult decision not to intervene or take him on as an orphan, and instead monitor and be on-hand only if his condition deteriorated. Assisting more than this would have made him completely dependent on humans for survival, and he was of an age where he could make it through on his own.

For several weeks, the lost and sad calf followed other animals including wildebeest and warthogs, as well as humans on horseback or vehicles, trying to find a herd of his own. Finally, he stumbled upon Sophie, an adult rhino cow, who instantly took him under her wing. Since then, Max has thrived.

Six years on, Max is well on his way to becoming the dominant bull on the property, has a ‘girlfriend’ Kunene, and is loved endlessly by the reserve staff who — all those years ago — watched him struggle as a direct result of poaching.

Max has his horns treated with the infusion and stands a better chance of living his life with his horns fully intact — as it should be.   

Who’s Supporting Us?

Simply put, we want the whole world to support us. Many ambassadors are already on board with the project and, when we launch, we’ll be calling on celebrities, key figures and influential groups and individuals to use their profile and raise awareness, promote this activity to save the rhinos, and encourage mass support. 

Why Is It So Important to Protect the Rhino?

In the Kruger National Park, a total of 662 rhino carcasses were found in 2016 (the latest figures) and there was a 16.9% increase in poaching-related activities that year compared to 2015.

680 poachers and traffickers were arrested for rhino-related poaching offences nationally, and of these, 417 were taken in or near the Kruger National Park. 148 firearms were also seized in the Kruger, and six just outside the park (Africa Geographic, Feb 2017).

However, in many cases, offenders often aren’t caught or convicted because of the difficulty proving if, when and from where the horns are stolen.

Huge amounts of rhino horn can be trafficked at any one time. In February 2019 $1million worth of rhino horn was seized in Hong Kong, across some 24 severed horns (BBC, Feb 2019).

The overall black rhino population has declined by an estimated 97.6% from 1960 to 1994, and 769 rhinos were poached in South Africa during 2018 (Save the Rhino) 

Dehorning a rhino can have heart-breaking consequences. In just a decade, nearly 8,000 African rhinos have been lost to poaching, and in 2018 alone, at least two rhinos were killed every day (Wild Aid, Feb 2019).

What Do We Need and When?

In order for us to protect the rhino we need support from across the globe, as well as the funds to infuse each and every surviving rhino before they are poached for their horns. Our first goal is to raise £250,000, which will help us to infuse the first 40 rhinos by mid-August 2019 before the weather becomes too hot for both the individuals undertaking the infusion and for the animals. We’ll then kick-start the second phase to infuse 2,500 rhinos — and the cost per infusion will naturally reduce further as we benefit from economies of scale. 

We need support from the media, key social influencers, high profile advocates, organisations, governments, and the people on the ground in order to make this project a success. The infusion process absolutely works and is the only way to prevent the rhino from being poached for its horns before it has been removed.

What’s The Soul of Africa?

If nothing is done, the rhino could be extinct well within our lifetime. So, to support the public fundraising campaign, Rhinos’ Last Stand is launching The Soul of Africa song, to spread awareness, drive interest, support, action, and raise much-needed funds. 

Written by: Gary Miller, Marion Larosa, Gary Stevenson and David West.

Gary Miller, a songwriter and performer, and Gary Stevenson, a record producer with over 20 years’ of successful producing credits, wanted to create a song that would deliver an important message on a global scale — The Soul of Africa.  

They have been in discussions with global superstars Seal and Rick Astley, and are confident that an announcement will be made very soon regarding a number of international artists to help bring the song to the world and give everyone on the planet the chance to help save the world's wildlife.

It will be launched on all digital platforms, coupled with a huge campaign through social media platforms on a global scale, leading up to the song’s official release in late 2019.

It’s an ambitious goal, but at Rhinos’ Last Stand we hope that by raising awareness of the project through the song’s powerful message we can help the world realise the threat to rhinos across Africa. Right now.

The Soul of Africa

There are moments, in a lifetime, if we reach out; we can make a change,
Through the heartache, of our own creation
There’s a message we are all the same.

I want to look into your eyes, look into your eyes and see no pain,
And if you open up our hearts, open up your heart,
You’ll feel this moment again,

This is the Soul of Africa, let there be sunshine behind the rain,
Let there be love, let there be a freedom where there is hope we can make a change

Let me shout it, from the highest mountain,
Brothers and sisters let there be no doubt,
Let me show you the way, to a brighter day there’s got to be a way,

We can work it all out,
I want to look into your eyes, look into your eyes and see no pain,
This is the Soul of Africa, let there be sunshine behind the rain

Let there be love, let us all walk with freedom, where there is hope we can make a change

This is the Soul of Africa a million hearts that beat as one,
There is no weakness to give in to,
It’s never too late, to throw down the gun
Don’t matter black or white, who can say wrong or right,

There’s no difference in the tears we cry
You and I can pray, that the world will make a change,
There but for the grace of God, go I, there go I,

This is the Soul of Africa, let there be sunshine behind the rain
Let there be love let there be a freedom where there is hope we can make a change
This is the Soul of Africa a million hearts that beat as one,
There is no weakness to give in to,
While we are one, we can be strong,

And Who Else Is Involved?

SeekerDNA Ltd

SeekerDNA is spearheading the traceable forensic DNA element of Rhinos’ Last Stand, and utilises market-leading technologies in the field. SeekerDNA is wholly committed to finding a solution to assist in the prevention of the poaching of rhinos. They already use a unique set of established products that have been proven to assist with the apprehension and deterrence of criminal activity in the theft of metal, cash and valuables — vital expertise for Rhinos’ Last Stand.

For more information, please visit www.seekerdna.com

Rhino Rescue Project

Headed by Dr. Lorinda Hern and co-founder Dr, Charles van Niekerk, Rhino Rescue Project has assembled a team of experts who are committed to saving the rhino. The project includes qualified veterinarians, helicopter pilots, game trackers and animal welfare personnel, as well as infusion technician, Gavin Sterley, assistant veterinarian Dr. Shaun Beverley and DNA sampling expert, Taryn Forfar.

For more information, please visit www.rhinoslaststand.org

 

 

Media Contacts

 

UK Contact Details  

For further editorial information, to arrange an interview or for any other queries please contact the editorial team:

Zen Communications | +44 (0)1952 200722

Jennifer Lloyd | jennie@zen-communications.co.uk | +44 (0)7947 085426

Felicity Wingrove | felicity@zen-communications.co.uk

 

Africa Contact Details  

For further editorial information, to arrange an interview or for any other queries please contact:

Kai Von Pannier | kvonpannier@seekerdna.co.za | +27 82 926 3425 | 086 111 3321 |

Lorinda Hern | lorinda@rhinorescueproject.co.za

 

About the Project
“Rhino Rescue Project… an out-of-the-box solution to an out-of-control problem.”

We have pioneered what we believe to be one of, if not the only, proactive initiatives to combat the scourge of rhino poaching in South Africa. We believe that the only way to save the rhino is to devalue their horns from the consumer perspective. Demand in Vietnam and China is growing exponentially and without effective demand reduction there will be no way protect the rhino population going into rapid decline from 2016.

The users of rhino horn do not care about killing the animal or the death of rangers and poachers in Africa. The only way to stop them from consuming horn is to trigger health anxiety – the fear of ingesting contaminated horn. We have pioneered this technology in South Africa and provide horn treatments to owners of rhinos and public reserves.

Our mission is to offer a sustainable, cost effective defensive strategy to protect rhinos in South Africa and elsewhere from poaching. Our all-inclusive, holistic protection programme is focused largely on the devaluation of rhino horns as commodities by infusing them with an animal-friendly toxin and indelible dye as well as added security measures like microchips, tracking technology and DNA sampling and storage.

With more than 7,500 rhinos lost to poaching in South Africa since 2010, few could argue that time is running out for us to bring an iconic African species back from the brink of extinction.

“All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph, is for enough good men to do nothing” – Edmund Burke

Our Mission
To devalue rhino horn to the extent that, once treated, they are valueless. This takes away the financial incentive to steal the horns since there is no reward for the poachers.
We plan to add new technology to massively increase the risk of detection so poaching becomes high risk, low reward – the very opposite of what motivates them to poach.