Rescuing 2,000 rhinos: can South Africa’s conservation efforts keep up?

Backed by anonymous donor funding, African Parks purchased the animals as well as the 7,800 hectare farm, initiating the ambitious 10-year ‘Rhino Rewild’ plan to rewild the rhinos across its protected parks in Africa. 1

The move was hailed as an historic moment for biodiversity in our country, but it also exposed deep cracks in South Africa’s current conservation framework, including the thorny issues of poaching, red tape and the absence of government funding for biodiversity projects.

To fully grasp the importance of this acquisition, one must first understand the scale of the poaching crisis in South Africa. The country is home to around 80% of the world’s white rhinos and one third of its black rhinos. According to the International Rhino Foundation, over 10,000 rhinos have been killed by poachers in the past 15 years, 2  an astonishing number that continues to rise despite increased anti-poaching efforts.

Initiatives like dehorning have been implemented to deter poachers, but the strategy is controversial for many reasons. Some conservationists argue for legalisation of the rhino horn trade, suggesting that their availability in a regulated market could reduce the demand in illicit markets. 3  Others warn that any legalisation that opens the legal trade of rhino horns might stimulate the black market and drive an increase in poaching. The lack of consensus and legal developments to address the issue have left the South African rhino species vulnerable to poachers.

In a more hopeful sign, South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has reported early success with the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Dehorning Programme that was launched in April 2024. Anti-poaching teams quickly neutralised a syndicate targeting dehorned rhinos, 4  and a recent conviction saw a poacher sentenced to 110 years in prison. 5  These developments suggest that when enforcement of anti-poaching laws is strongly applied and apprehension is well-resourced, poaching can be countered effectively.

But therein lies the issue, which is that consistent, high-level enforcement and monitoring require sustained funding, and that is an area where the system falters.

While South Africa plays host to the majority of the world’s rhinos, the government has no legal obligation to fund large-scale biodiversity projects such as this one. 6  This meant African Parks had to piece together private funding from international donors, a monumental task that poses a potential barrier for future conservation efforts.

This type of model is unsustainable since it places endangered species at risk, where focus should be placed on local investment in conservation efforts to enhance South Africa’s funding for biodiversity projects.

A possible solution to the lack of funding is to create structured government-backed conservation bonds, similar to the green bonds already used for clean energy projects. These could channel institutional investment into biodiversity protection while offering returns tied to measurable conservation outcomes. 7

It’s a concept already being explored globally and could help ensure that future transactions aren’t held together by goodwill alone.

Despite governmental and public support for the acquisition, African Parks still had to navigate a minefield of regulatory hurdles before acquiring the rhinos. South African law tightly controls activities involving listed species such as rhinos, which includes the breeding, selling and transporting of animals, and even moving horn that has been removed for the protection of the rhino. 8

While these laws were created for good reason, which is to prevent the illegal trade of rhino horns and ensure accountability, they are not well suited to emergency scenarios. As a result, African Parks had to secure a range of permits and navigate red tape that caused delays for the transaction.

Creating a conservation “task force” under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, with the purpose and mandate to streamline approvals in exceptional circumstances, such as large-scale conservation efforts, could prevent similar bottlenecks and frustrations in the future.

Rhinos are some of the most expensive animals to protect from poachers. Security is a constant necessity, not just a luxury, with poachers often being armed and dangerous. This means that patrols with armed guards, surveillance drones and helicopters are required to oversee the rhinos, which comes at a staggering cost. 9

Security operations must also comply with South Africa’s Private Security Industry Regulation Act. That includes registering with the regulator, obtaining firearm licences and training all personnel, which requires more time, more money and overcoming more red tape. 10

Beyond security, there are everyday costs, such as feed, water, medical care and transport that need to be met. With 2,000 rhinos on hand, African Parks is facing an enormous challenge not only to protect the rhinos from poachers, but also to keep them healthy until they can be rewilded over the next decade. 11

To offset costs, some experts suggest that conservation areas could partner with the private sector through eco-tourism, conservation sponsorships or even carbon emission offset projects. 12  But others warn that this approach could risk turning conservation into a business model adopted by the private sector, rather than focussing on a moral imperative.

Working on this matter was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of our legal careers. At CMS South Africa, we were deeply involved in navigating a highly complex set of agreements that included the transfer of animals, land, business assets and regulatory permissions – all under intense time pressure. Despite the legal intricacies and regulatory hurdles, being part of such a landmark conservation effort left a lasting impression on us. It reinforced how vital biodiversity is, not just for ecosystems, but for humanity’s shared heritage. While we didn’t visit the rhinos ourselves, supporting a project of this magnitude reminded us that the law can be a powerful tool for positive environmental change. It was hugely fulfilling to see our legal work contribute to safeguarding a species so close to the edge.

The acquisition of Platinum Rhino by African Parks is not just a feel-good story – it is a wake-up call for stakeholders to do better to support local conservation efforts. While the transaction has saved thousands of rhinos from an uncertain future, it has exposed critical flaws in how South Africa funds, regulates and supports conservation projects.

This offers us a rare opportunity to rethink how we approach wildlife protection and conservation of endangered species. A coordinated funding mechanism, improved regulation and recognition that conservation is a national priority, not just a niche interest, are all key to the future success of wildlife protection.

African Parks has taken the first step in rewilding the rhinos by donating 40 southern white rhinos from the acquisition of Platinum Rhino to the Munywana Conservancy in KwaZulu Natal. If African Parks can successfully rewild all the rhinos over the next decade, it will be one of the greatest conservation stories of our lifetime. But without systemic change, it is quite possible that it may also be one of the last.