At their core, Great Plains Conservation exists to protecting Africa’s last pockets of pristine wilderness. Pioneers in responsible tourism, they drive the fight to find the right blend of “conservation, communities, and commerce” to make the biggest positive impact as possible. Great Plains’ camps in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Botswana are located in some of the most rarefied environments in the world, managed sustainably and for generations to come.
Ker & Downey is proud to support Great Plains Conservation and the Rhinos Without Borders project. This project’s goal is to move endangered rhinos away from poaching hot spots and into safer environments. Rhinos Without Borders aims to relocate 100 rhinos from high risk South Africa into low risk Botswana. Botswana has a “no tolerance policy” when it comes to poaching and because of that, has a low poaching rate. Completing the project will take an estimated $4.5 million, and Ker & Downey has committed $70,000 to the effort since 2015.
So far, the project has successfully translocated 87 rhinos. Now Great Plains Conservation seeks to expand the fund to include active monitoring of the new “source” population. This population includes a number of calves born as a result of the rhinos moving to a safer environment.
Now more than ever, Great Plains Conservation and Rhinos Without Borders needs donations to continue running their operations. If you have an interest in supporting this important program directly, please visit their website to learn more about the different ways to donate. The fund only uses 2.5% of donations to cover bank costs, ensuring that each donation makes the biggest impact possible.
Dereck and Beverley Joubert, award-winning wildlife photographers, filmmakers, and National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence, founded Great Plains Conservation in 2006. Their stunning works of visual art make clear their passion for the wilderness they aim to protect.