The Republic of Namibia occupies a large portion of southwestern Africa, lying between the frigid waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean and the expanses of the Kalahari Desert. On its western border is the infamous Skeleton Coast with its barren beaches and rolling dunes. In its varied habitats a diverse array of wildlife survive.

In the early 1980’s, rampant poaching caused the near extinction of black rhinoceros, desert elephants and many other species of wildlife in northwestern Namibia. Fortunately, a concerned group of people recognized that this unchecked slaughter would result in the local extinction of several wildlife species in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia. The Save the Rhino Trust (www.rhino-trust.org.na) was formed in hopes of curbing the inevitable loss of black rhinos and other wildlife.



Today, due largely to the work of the Save the Rhino Trust to stop

poaching, census estimates show that the numbers of black rhinos in the Kunene Region have doubled, and that poaching has all but vanished in the region. Save the Rhino Trust is now expanding its focus to include research on the habitat needs of the rhino, establishing land conservation measures that will ensure long-term conservation of key rhino habitats and re-populating previously extirpated rhino ranges. Round River assists SRT researchers in base line ecological research efforts. These research efforts include rhino census efforts, bird and herpetological surveys, and habitat model field validation.

Rhino Student Program

The Republic of Namibia occupies a large portion of southwestern Africa, lying between the southern Atlantic Ocean and the expanses of the Kalahari Desert.  This program offers a rich experience in wildlife and community conservation.  Students spend their time with the rhino game guards and researchers of Save the Rhino Trust in a landscape supporting hyena, jackals, oryx, elephant, giraffe, ostrich, cheetahs, lions, and zebras.  This area of Namibia is truly a desert wilderness, and the conservation work being done by the few people that venture into it is as unique as the place. 

Students will assist SRT with developing novel approaches to supplement their conservation research objectives which include: 1) conducting black rhino re-introduction feasibility assessments within interested community conservancies, 2) developing a science-based rhino viewing protocol to minimize human-induced disturbance from tourist viewing and monitoring activities, 3) developing long-term, regional biodiversity monitoring programs.  Additional on-going projects and activities include wild ungulate surveys, bird diversity surveys, ground truthing of rhino habitat models, and field trips to other areas of Namibia.

Student Program Dates:
February 20 to May 10
September 22 - December 12

 

Download: Rick Bass' Return of the Black Rhino