Project Phiri is based in the Northwest Province of South Africa. The research started with pilot work in Pilanesberg National Park in 2003 and is supported by The Earthwatch Institute.
The Hyaena Specialist Group has two major goals: 1) to promote the conservation of hyaenas worldwide through integrated research, and 2) through education, to change people's attitudes towards these much maligned and often unnecessarily persecuted animals.
Central to these objectives has been the work carried out in Pilanesberg National Park. Read more
One of the core functions of the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust is to promote the upliftment of the communities in the related fields of Nature Conservation and Tourism on the periphery of the Pilanesberg National Park.
Projects that the PWT takes on are identified by the Community Development Officer of the North West Parks & Tourism Board.
The Trust steps in to assist where funds are not available or not enough to meet the needs of the projects identified. Read more
The lethal removal of elephants through culling is a situation that the Park would like to avoid if at all possible.
With the advances in contraception, the Park is looking at this option to stabilise the Pilanesberg elephant population.
This is unfortunately quite an expensive operation as a helicopter is needed to administor the vaccine, and must be done every year for it to be effective in bringing down the growth rate.Read more
At present the focus is on creating a database of information on each rhino within the Park.
To increase our knowledge of rhinos, the park uses a technique of "notching" where a specific pattern is cut into the ears which enables ground monitors to individually identify that animal, who it is with, where it stays and other biological data such as birth intervals.
At the same time DNA is collected as part of the National Rhino Project that analyses and stores this data that can be used as evidence in the case of rhino poaching. Read more
The overall protection of the rhinos remains an in the field situation. The Park has through donations from the PWT and other sources been able to equip and train field rangers, as well as now having a dedicated K9 unit. The Park has to remain one step ahead of the poachers, however, so the purchase of specialised equipment will always be needed as well as continually training new field rangers and giving refresher courses and new skills to old hands.
Fund raising for specifically protecting rhinos is an ongoing project that the trust has been involved with for the past two years and will continue into the future.Read more
In the Bush, on the Frontlines. Tracking. Protecting. Detecting.
It is well known that the combination of a trained dog handler and his dog is a powerful weapon against crime.
With the handler's knowledge of crime, his reasoning and alert mind, backed-up by the dog's discriminating nose, its superior sense of hearing, better eyesight, agility, power and trainability, they form a very effective team.
The Rhino Dogs Project will bring this effective team formula face to face against rhino poachers on the frontlines. Read more
Wild dogs were reintroduced into Pilanesberg in 1998 and have been successful in their breeding and survival ever since.
Monitoring the movements of the current Pilanesberg pack of eleven wild dogs relies on the technology of a satellite collar to track them on a daily basis.
At the moment the pack is in need of renewing of their collars.
The PWT will assist in funding this project in 2013.
The cost for this collar (fitting & service fees) is R 25,000 Read more