https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Rhino ambulance to save poaching survivors

Rhino ambulance to save poaching survivors

11th December 2014

By: Creamer Media Reporter

  

Font size: - +

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Rhino conservation initiative Saving the Survivors has received more than R3-million from Dubai-based air services provider dnata – part of the Emirates Group – to acquire and operate a rhino ambulance. Irma Venter has the story.

Irma Venter:
The ambulance, which consists of a four-by-four vehicle and trailer, is equipped with a rooftop tent, generator surgical instruments, endoscope, as well as ultrasound   and X-ray equipment. The ambulance will help Saving the Survivors, based at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, to treat the survivors of rhino poaching incidents.

Saving the Survivors co-founder Dr Johan Marais explains the need for the rapid rescue vehicle.

Saving the Survivors co-founder Dr Johan Marais

Irma Venter:
The ambulance will have two benefits, says Marais.

Dr Johan Marais

Shannon de Ryhove:
The increasing rate of rhino poaching in South Africa and Africa affects economic growth opportunities in the hunting industry. As a result, the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and defence and aerospace manufacturer Paramount Group recently unveiled its Anti-Poaching Skills and K9 Training Academy in Magaliesburg in an effort to mitigate the impact of rhino poaching on the continent. Zandile Mavuso has the story.

Zandile Mavuso:
On November 26, defence and aerospace manufacturer Paramount Group and the Ichikowitz Family Foundation held a media event at its Anti-Poaching Skills and K9 Training Academy in Magaliesburg where it created real-life assimilations of different stages and processes of Anti-Poaching and K9 training. Members of the media were taken through different stages of training that both the dogs and their handlers go through. Ichikowitz Foundation director Eric Ichikowitz explains the importance of having a healthy dog/ranger relationship.

Ichikowitz Foundations director Eric Ichikowitz

Zandile Mavuso:
Ichikowitz further highlights the different type of systems they employ to train and prepare the dogs and their conversation officers for any type of poaching that they may encounter.

Eric Ichikowitz

Zandile Mavuso:
Not being accustomed to chasing after poachers, K9 Training Academy COO Henry Oosthuizen explains the importance of choosing the right breed dog to train for anti-poaching activities.

K9 Training Academy COO Henry Oosthuizen

Zandile Mavuso:
Oosthuizen goes on to highlight the dogs that are used at the K9 Training Academy, which are best receptive to anti-poaching tactics

Henry Oosthuizen

Zandile Mavuso:
With a lot of technicalities being involved in anti-poaching techniques, Oosthuizen explains why dogs are the preferred animals for anti-poaching.

Henry Oosthuizen

Zandile Mavuso:
Ichikowitz notes that it is important to create scenarios during the training that might permeate during a poaching attempt in order for the handler and the dogs to be prepared.

Eric Ichikowitz

Zandile Mavuso:
Running a successful training academy has meant that the dogs and handlers can be deployed anywhere in Africa upon completion of the training. Oosthuizen mentions where the dogs have been deployed to in Africa.

Henry Oosthuizen

Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: Gauteng’s Premier declares an ‘open door policy’ for businesses; and South Africa’s R&D expenditure is not yet on target.

In a move to entice the private sector to buy into the province’s overarching ten-pillar transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation strategy, Gauteng Premier David Makhura has declared an “open door policy” to businesses wishing to engage with the provincial Cabinet.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura

While South Africa improved its spending on research and development (R&D) during 2012/13 and halted the “worrying” contractions experienced in 2009/10 and 2010/11, the nation had failed to achieve its years-long target of spending 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) on R&D.

Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor

Shannon de Ryhove:
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next time for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.

Edited by Shannon de Ryhove
Contributing Editor

Comments

Showroom

Aqs image
AQS Liquid Transfer

AxFlow AQS Liquid Transfer (Pty) Ltd is an Importer and Distributor of Pumps in Southern Africa

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Rentech
Rentech

Rentech provides renewable energy products and services to the local and selected African markets. Supplying inverters, lithium and lead-acid...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/03/2024)
15th March 2024 By: Martin Creamer

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.072 0.124s - 157pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now