WHY DO ANTI-POACHING K9’S & RHINOS NEED OUR HELP?

South Africa is home to the largest remaining populations of wild rhinos on Earth—yet it is also the country most heavily impacted by poaching. In 2024, an estimated 420 of the 516 rhinos poached across Africa were killed in South Africa.

There is hope. According to the International Rhino Foundation’s 2025 State of the Rhino report, poaching levels are now at their lowest point in more than a decade. This progress proves that conservation works.

But the fight is far from over. Poaching remains a serious threat to rhinos across Africa—and we need your help to protect these iconic animals and secure a future where they can thrive.

ANTI-POACHING K9 TEAMS WE SUPPORT

Wild Tomorrow partners with two incredible anti-poaching K9 teams from surrounding reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park K9 Unit and Project Rhino K9-Unit. HiP is a small but brave team of K9s and handlers, who are vitally important in the fight to save rhinos at their park, the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, made famous for saving white rhinos from a first wave of poaching in the 70s. Now the rhinos are at risk of extinction again in a new wave of poaching. The rangers and four highly trained dogs risk their lives daily to save rhinos at their park.

The Project Rhino K9-Unit plays a pivotal role in disrupting criminal and poaching operations across KwaZulu-Natal. Partnering with private reserve managers, conservation agencies, security teams, and the South African Police service, the Rhino K9-Unit has assisted in numerous arrests. They also regularly help patrol Wild Tomorrow’s reserve, ready for rhinos!

The secret weapon for both of these amazing K9 teams is their dog’s amazing noses. With a sense of smell 1,000 times stronger than a human’s, these trained K9s are experts at detecting the scent of a poacher.