User:Gemma Persello/sandbox/Rockwood

Rockwood
Rockwood is a privately owned wildlife and rhino conservancy located in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Once a cattle and sheep farm, owner and founder Wicus Diedericks turned the land over to the protection of wildlife and endemic species in 2013.

The primary role of the 30 000-acre property is the breeding and conservation of the Southern white rhino. Housing more than 300 rhinos, Rockwood holds one of the largest privately owned populations of rhino in South Africa. It also has an above-average annual population growth rate for white rhino in Africa. This success is due to few poachings and a high birth rate: more than 125 calves have been born since its establishment. Rockwood monitors its calves closely, even hand-rearing orphans to ensure their survival, and is able to give rhinos swift medical attention when needed. As a result, the reserve boasts a low mortality rate.

In 2019, Rockwood began fundraising for rhino conservation and was formally registered as a non-profit organisation (number 2019/608671/09) [1 ] [2 ]

Aims and Objectives
The primary objective of Rockwood is to protect and conserve a viable population of Southern white rhino to ensure the species’ long-term survival. Illegal poaching, as well as habitat loss from urban encroachment and expansion of commercial farming, has pushed Africa’s rhinos to the brink of extinction. Rockwood’s objective is to use a hands-on conservation approach and state-of-the-art security to protect and conserve its population of Southern white rhino.

Rockwood aims:

conservation of the species.
 * To act as a genetic and demographic reservoir to reinforce wild rhino populations.
 * To encourage rapid growth with genetic and demographic viability for sustainable
 * To create a protected population to act as a “safety net” should wild rhino population numbers become dangerously low.
 * To educate people on the coexistence of man and nature.

Rhino Conservation
Rockwood calls its approach “aggressive conservation”. It includes a 24-hour monitoring system of its rhinos with state-of-the-art security, and a team of 27 military-trained horse-mounted rangers. Through a feeding routine, the rhinos move of their own accord into enclosed bomas in the evening where they are monitored with thermal cameras and protected during high-risk poaching hours. The rhinos interact freely while under the observation of armed rangers on horseback.

Benefits to Aggressive Conservation

 * High security for the rhinos.
 * Increased health and behaviour monitoring.
 * More accurate record keeping of each animal.
 * Research into nutrition for rhinos - which will hopefully lead to healthier animals and higher reproductive rates and population growth.
 * Easy access for research and education opportunities

Research
Rockwood endorses exchange of information and research. Working with various universities and scientists, Rockwood identifies specific research projects to aid rhino conservation. Recently, Rockwood partnered with Stellenbosch University on a wildlife research project. Launched by the university’s Department of Animal Science in September 2019 (after obtaining ethical approval from the university’s Animal Care and Ethics Committee), the project aims to establish whether a horse milk replacement formula or a rhino milk replacement formula will best supply the nutritional needs of baby rhinos who are unable to suckle their mothers.

Rockwood also conducts their own research on various wildlife. One study investigated whether giraffes are at greater risk of being electrocuted during a storm because of their height. Rockwood’s conservation scientist, Ciska Scheijen, conducted the study after two of the reserve’s giraffes were struck by lightning and died. In 2020, the research paper was published in the African Journal of Ecology.

Fund Raising
The funding Rockwood raises supports their rhino conservation efforts. These include:


 * Expensive state-of-the-art security system.
 * Rockwood staff and rhino rangers salaries and housing.
 * Horses and kit for the rhino rangers.
 * Ongoing training and career development for the rhino rangers.
 * Feed for the rhinos to supplement natural grazing during drought conditions.
 * Veterinary medical care for rhinos.
 * Scientific research and associated facilities.
 * Education and community outreach.
 * Maintenance and upkeep of rhino facilities.

Funds are raised in the following ways:


 * Donations
 * Wildlife safaris
 * Volunteer programmes