2025 Rhino Conservation Challenge

Be Part of Something Bigger

This is more than a competition. It’s a call to action to protect one of the planet’s most iconic species, support wildlife rangers, and educate communities worldwide. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, conservationist, or just someone who wants to make a difference — now’s your time to step up.

How Global Conservation Force Will Use $50,000 in Direct Support of Rhino Protection, Conservation, and Counter Wildlife Trafficking

At Global Conservation Force (GCF), we are committed to the long-term protection of rhinos and the disruption of wildlife trafficking networks through strategic conservation actions, training, and partnerships. A $50,000 investment would be allocated across key initiatives that directly support field operations, technology deployment, frontline ranger safety, and rhino rehabilitation, with the following impact:

1. $4,000 – Ranger Field First Aid Course for K9s in Conservation

This funding will support a specialized 40-participant field first aid course focused on medical response for conservation working dogs. K9s are a critical asset in rhino anti-poaching and counter-trafficking operations. This training ensures handlers and rangers are equipped to manage emergency situations in the field, improving the longevity and performance of K9s in active operations.

2. $6,000 – Solar-Powered AI Rhino Tracking Collars

We will invest in cutting-edge solar-powered rhino collars with integrated AI analytics to track and monitor individual rhinos in real-time. These collars provide actionable data on rhino movements, behavior, and potential poaching threats, enhancing reserve management and anti-poaching response efforts.

3. $10,000 – Support for Zululand Rhino Orphanage

These funds will directly support the care, feeding, veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation of orphaned rhino calves—many of whom have lost their mothers to poaching. The Zululand Rhino Orphanage plays a critical role in giving these calves a second chance at life and eventual rewilding.

4. $10,000 – GCF K9 Program: Counter Wildlife Trafficking and Anti-Poaching Support

This allocation supports the maintenance, deployment, and expansion of GCF’s K9 units, which are active in countering wildlife trafficking and frontline anti-poaching. Funds will be used for training, veterinary care, food, handler support, and operational logistics across high-threat landscapes in South Africa and partner projects abroad.

5. $20,000 – Sponsored Ranger Training and Equipment Programs (Africa & Asia)

This funding will fully sponsor multi-discipline ranger training courses, including anti-poaching tactics, wildlife monitoring, field navigation, bush survival, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and more. Each participant receives a field-ready gear package, ensuring immediate operational readiness. These trainings are essential for ranger safety, wildlife protection, and long-term conservation capacity building in both Africa and Asia.

Total Allocation: $50,000

This strategic breakdown ensures that every dollar directly supports rhino conservation through a combination of high-impact technology, hands-on care, skilled personnel, and the working dogs that serve on the frontlines of protection.

Together, these efforts create a multi-layered approach to safeguarding rhinos and disrupting the networks that threaten them.