Despite the stressful pandemic situation we're incredibly proud to have played a role in the Namibian subspecies of black rhino being upgraded to Near Threatened.
"The increase in Black Rhino numbers is mainly due to continuing law enforcement efforts and successful population management measures, including moving selected rhinos from established populations to new locations to keep populations productive and increase the species’ range. One subspecies of the Black Rhino, the South-western Black Rhino (D. b. bicornis) – previously assessed as Vulnerable – has seen sufficient population growth over the last three generations to be newly categorised as Near Threatened." Conservation efforts bring cautious hope for African rhinos - IUCN Red List.
“These developments for African rhinos show the changes that can be achieved through committed conservation action,” said Dr Jane Smart, Global Director of the IUCN Biodiversity Conservation Group. “It is crucial that local people are increasingly involved in and benefit from conservation efforts. International, national and local actors need to work together to tackle the biodiversity crisis. It will be critical for the voices of those working in the field to protect threatened species such as African Rhinos to be amplified in coming years as we set the conservation agenda for the next decade.”
Learn how a handful of dedicated Namibian conservationists - among whom Pierre du Preez the rhino standout - resolutely turned the story from disaster to success Namibia’s Black Rhino Custodianship Program April 2020 - Volume II-2, Conservation & Wildlife Management, Birgit Kotting.
"The need to closely link conservation and law enforcement led to the establishment of the Intelligence and Investigation Unit (IIU) under the Wildlife Protection Services Division in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism during 2016-17. This was significantly elevated through the launch of Operation Blue Rhino in mid-2018 – a formal collaboration between the IIU and the Protected Resources Division (PRD) of the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL)." - Colgar Sikopo, Director: Wildlife and National Parks, Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Combatting Wildlife Crime in Namibia Annual Report 2019.
At Ongava conservation remains our guiding star, our singular priority mobilising our protection, nurturing, rehabilitation and research efforts. Thanks to your support Ongava, which is a Namibian name for rhino, has managed one of Namibia's successful black rhino custodianships. Thankfully the spell of drought has been broken, however, wildlife crime remains an imminent threat.
The COVID-19 pandemic tourism flameout has a dramatic impact on the sustainability of our conservation work. While our colleagues in the field have locked down the reserve and cranked up surveillance to yet new heights, our work is cut out to restart the economic engine.
ELENA, it is encouraging to witness the commitment to conservation based tourism - thank you for the support. While the firm and fair application of Ongava's terms and conditions may not be universally popular, affected Agents and Guests have appreciated the flexible options. Cancellation penalties are a tourism standard, those that could not postpone can draw satisfaction that their contribution is helping to fund the protection of high value wildlife species.
It’s never early enough to get started. Some thoughts on the way forward:
° At this time in the ‘fear’ cycle of the global pandemic we need to be proactive. Once the grief cycle morphs from fear to acceptance, and then to planning the future, our international source market Agents need to be ready to get cracking. If we’re not decisive we’ll lose the initiative to other, more proactive destinations.
° In a time of great uncertainty we are best served by decisive, determined, decision making. To get the decision making cogs to process and grind what they have to grind we have to act fast and decisively. As we did with closing the business. So must we do with re-starting the business.
° For this drive we’re dependent on the international, regional and domestic travel trade - we are open to ideas how we can assist efforts to restart international tourism to Namibia.
° It is no trivial matter to convince the airlines to fly to Windhoek again. If we don’t create the market demand the airlines will not volunteer to service Windhoek out of the goodness of their hearts. Once it is deemed manageable to travel, market forces is what drive airlines, and must also be communicated to government authorities.
° We need you to help mobilise demand, and appetite for, international travel.
° At the outset the more risk tolerant Guests will be prepared to travel internationally. These early adopters are critical to get our businesses back on track.
° When we reopen the camps in July 2020 Ongava will be extraordinarily hygienic. And our colleagues at the front lines will be amply protected.
° In the coming period we’ll be communicating the extensive, science-based, daily sterilization measures that Ongava camps will have in place. That Guests and Staff can have confidence in putting their lives at least risk when they are at Ongava. The early adopters that experience this will relay the message, to all our advantage.
° The eroding currency will be an additional driver for value conscious travellers
Our sympathies to those who are suffering. And who have lost loved ones. We support #flatteningthecurve. And trust this too shall pass. Your continued support enables us to fund the protection of nature.
Kind Regards
Rob
PS - in a stranger than fiction quirk of fate studies are now taking place that the 100 year old BCG vaccine - a standard in the developing world - may support immunity against Coronavirus infection:
Can an Old Vaccine Stop the New Coronavirus? A tuberculosis vaccine invented a century ago is cheap and safe, and seems to bolster the body’s immune system. (New York Times April 5, 2020)
"The increase in Black Rhino numbers is mainly due to continuing law enforcement efforts and successful population management measures, including moving selected rhinos from established populations to new locations to keep populations productive and increase the species’ range. One subspecies of the Black Rhino, the South-western Black Rhino (D. b. bicornis) – previously assessed as Vulnerable – has seen sufficient population growth over the last three generations to be newly categorised as Near Threatened." Conservation efforts bring cautious hope for African rhinos - IUCN Red List.
“These developments for African rhinos show the changes that can be achieved through committed conservation action,” said Dr Jane Smart, Global Director of the IUCN Biodiversity Conservation Group. “It is crucial that local people are increasingly involved in and benefit from conservation efforts. International, national and local actors need to work together to tackle the biodiversity crisis. It will be critical for the voices of those working in the field to protect threatened species such as African Rhinos to be amplified in coming years as we set the conservation agenda for the next decade.”
Learn how a handful of dedicated Namibian conservationists - among whom Pierre du Preez the rhino standout - resolutely turned the story from disaster to success Namibia’s Black Rhino Custodianship Program April 2020 - Volume II-2, Conservation & Wildlife Management, Birgit Kotting.
"The need to closely link conservation and law enforcement led to the establishment of the Intelligence and Investigation Unit (IIU) under the Wildlife Protection Services Division in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism during 2016-17. This was significantly elevated through the launch of Operation Blue Rhino in mid-2018 – a formal collaboration between the IIU and the Protected Resources Division (PRD) of the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL)." - Colgar Sikopo, Director: Wildlife and National Parks, Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Combatting Wildlife Crime in Namibia Annual Report 2019.
At Ongava conservation remains our guiding star, our singular priority mobilising our protection, nurturing, rehabilitation and research efforts. Thanks to your support Ongava, which is a Namibian name for rhino, has managed one of Namibia's successful black rhino custodianships. Thankfully the spell of drought has been broken, however, wildlife crime remains an imminent threat.
The COVID-19 pandemic tourism flameout has a dramatic impact on the sustainability of our conservation work. While our colleagues in the field have locked down the reserve and cranked up surveillance to yet new heights, our work is cut out to restart the economic engine.
ELENA, it is encouraging to witness the commitment to conservation based tourism - thank you for the support. While the firm and fair application of Ongava's terms and conditions may not be universally popular, affected Agents and Guests have appreciated the flexible options. Cancellation penalties are a tourism standard, those that could not postpone can draw satisfaction that their contribution is helping to fund the protection of high value wildlife species.
It’s never early enough to get started. Some thoughts on the way forward:
° At this time in the ‘fear’ cycle of the global pandemic we need to be proactive. Once the grief cycle morphs from fear to acceptance, and then to planning the future, our international source market Agents need to be ready to get cracking. If we’re not decisive we’ll lose the initiative to other, more proactive destinations.
° In a time of great uncertainty we are best served by decisive, determined, decision making. To get the decision making cogs to process and grind what they have to grind we have to act fast and decisively. As we did with closing the business. So must we do with re-starting the business.
° For this drive we’re dependent on the international, regional and domestic travel trade - we are open to ideas how we can assist efforts to restart international tourism to Namibia.
° It is no trivial matter to convince the airlines to fly to Windhoek again. If we don’t create the market demand the airlines will not volunteer to service Windhoek out of the goodness of their hearts. Once it is deemed manageable to travel, market forces is what drive airlines, and must also be communicated to government authorities.
° We need you to help mobilise demand, and appetite for, international travel.
° At the outset the more risk tolerant Guests will be prepared to travel internationally. These early adopters are critical to get our businesses back on track.
° When we reopen the camps in July 2020 Ongava will be extraordinarily hygienic. And our colleagues at the front lines will be amply protected.
° In the coming period we’ll be communicating the extensive, science-based, daily sterilization measures that Ongava camps will have in place. That Guests and Staff can have confidence in putting their lives at least risk when they are at Ongava. The early adopters that experience this will relay the message, to all our advantage.
° The eroding currency will be an additional driver for value conscious travellers
Our sympathies to those who are suffering. And who have lost loved ones. We support #flatteningthecurve. And trust this too shall pass. Your continued support enables us to fund the protection of nature.
Kind Regards
Rob
PS - in a stranger than fiction quirk of fate studies are now taking place that the 100 year old BCG vaccine - a standard in the developing world - may support immunity against Coronavirus infection:
Can an Old Vaccine Stop the New Coronavirus? A tuberculosis vaccine invented a century ago is cheap and safe, and seems to bolster the body’s immune system. (New York Times April 5, 2020)
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