Protecting Namibia’s Desert-Adapted Black Rhinos Through Community Partnerships

Since 1982, Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has worked to protect the desert-adapted black rhino in Namibia's Kunene Region. 

Its mission is to secure a safe habitat for rhinos and other wildlife while supporting a sustainable future for local communities. SRT partners with communities and provides incentives that link conservation success to local benefits. Through sustainable eco-tourism on communal lands, rhino conservation creates livelihoods and strengthens community commitment to protecting wildlife. Working closely with the Namibian Government, NGOs, donors, and international partners, SRT coordinates black rhino conservation initiatives to ensure the long-term survival of the species, the wilderness, and the people who depend on it. 

Save the Rhino Trust’s Core Mission and Activities

SRT's work focuses on: 

• Monitoring and evaluating the rhino population

• Strengthening rhino security

• Delivering community benefits through conservation 

Field teams of expert trackers patrol on foot from remote camps, gathering essential data and ensuring constant protection. 

SRT also involves local stakeholders in rhino monitoring, education, and awareness programmes for visitors and young Namibians. For over 40 years, SRT's long-term data has guided rhino protection and inspired nearly 20 peer-reviewed scientific studies on desert-adapted black rhino ecology and community-based conservation.