In South Africa’s northernmost province, where acacia branches lift toward a wide open sky, Veterinary Conservation Coalition and Saving the Survivors collaborated on another successful protection project. This time both Dr. DeBlanc and Dr. Marais were hands‑on in the bush, with both non‑profits donating time, funding, helicopter support, tracking collars, labor, medical supplies and expertise. Together, the incredibly committed duo of veterinarians dehorned 15 rhinos on the reserve. While sedated, some members of the herd were ear‑notched for future identification and tracking, while others were fitted with advanced AI tracking collars to assist with ongoing monitoring, research, and protection efforts that continue long after each rhino rises and returns to the wild.

Dehorning remains one of the most effective, welfare‑centered strategies for reducing poaching risk on private reserves, where limited budgets and vast terrain make daily protection an immense challenge. By removing the horn, the very feature poachers target, veterinarians dramatically decrease the likelihood of a rhino being killed, while the animal continues to live a normal, healthy life.
With helicopter teams sweeping the landscape, ground crews coordinating, and veterinarians performing meticulous horn removal and health assessments, each rhino received world‑class care. The addition of ear notching and AI tracking collars further strengthens the reserve’s ability to monitor movements, detect anomalies, and respond quickly to threats.

For small, under‑resourced reserves, interventions of this scale are nothing short of transformative. Every rhino protected is a victory; every collar fitted is a lifeline; every hour donated is a stand against the relentless pressure of poaching across southern Africa. These reserves cannot afford to wait for grants or global attention. They act now, with grit, urgency, and unwavering devotion to the wildlife in their care. With the Veterinary Conservation Coalition and Saving the Survivors standing beside them, their impact multiplies. Together, we are ensuring that these 15 rhinos, and the countless others who depend on these efforts, continue to roam safely and free from the silence poaching threatens to impose.