Tag rhino conservation

11 May

New Gear, Expanded Training, and the Next Operational Chapter for GCF K9 Kesa and Handler Lauren Watine

After extensive international training and operational preparation, GCF K9 Kesa is officially on her way back to the Americas to begin the next phase of wildlife conservation and protection efforts in Central America alongside her new handler, Lauren Watine.

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26 Apr

2026 Global Conservation Force | Professional Development Courses

Global Conservation Force (GCF) is excited to announce our series of immersive, hands-on conservation training courses for 2026! Designed to provide participants with critical skills and education, these programs offer a unique opportunity to contribute directly to wildlife protection efforts while experiencing the diverse beauty of South Africa.

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26 Apr

Two Weeks on the Front Lines: TECC Training Across South Africa’s Rhino Protection Units

For the past two weeks, Chris Laursen has been on the ground across South Africa, delivering advanced Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) training to front-line anti-poaching teams protecting some of the world’s most threatened rhino populations. From the Eastern Cape to the Greater Kruger landscape, these trainings brought together foot patrol rangers and K9 response units operating in some of the highest-risk environments in modern conservation. Every patrol carries risk, not only from armed poachers, but from dangerous wildlife, environmental hazards, and the physical demands of remote field work. Ensuring rangers are medically prepared to respond under pressure can mean the difference between life and death.

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17 Apr

GCF Sponsors First Responder, TECC, and Water Rescue Training for Kariega Foundation Anti-Poaching Unit

Global Conservation Force (GCF) recently ran and fully sponsored a comprehensive First Responder / First Aid and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) training, alongside swim lessons and water rescue instruction, for our dedicated anti-poaching partners at the Kariega Foundation, supporting operations within Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa. This multi-discipline training program was designed to strengthen the lifesaving capabilities of rangers operating in remote and high-risk environments where immediate medical care is often the difference between life and death.

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16 Apr

March 2026 Field Update | South Africa

Gear Delivery, Eight Days of Scenario Training, and Multi-Reserve Conservation Support in the Eastern Cape March 2026 marked another sustained operational cycle for Global Conservation Force (GCF) and our long-standing […]

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9 Apr

Global Conservation Force Hosts Annual K9 First Aid Training for Ranger Handlers

On March 24, 2026, we ran our annual K9 First Aid training for ranger handlers across South Africa’s Eastern Cape. This critical program was delivered in partnership with the expert veterinary team from Ikhala Veterinary Hospital, including veterinarians and veterinary nurses who play an essential role in the ongoing health and survival of conservation working dogs.

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23 Jan

SCISCENT Conference | Mike Veale – Noses on the Frontline: Detection Dogs in the Fight Against Wildlife Crime

Detection dogs are becoming one of the most powerful tools in the global fight against wildlife crime—and they are quite literally on the frontlines. In this eye-opening and experience-driven talk, conservationist and anti-poaching expert Mike Veale explores the critical role detection and protection K9s play in safeguarding endangered species and disrupting wildlife trafficking networks. Drawing from real-world field operations across Africa and beyond, Mike shares how highly trained K9 teams are deployed to detect ivory, rhino horn, illegal firearms, snares, and other wildlife-crime indicators in complex, high-risk environments.

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30 Dec

11th Annual “Haunted” Wildlife Gala

Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2026 Time: Doors Open at 5:30 PM Location: Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, CA Theme: Full Halloween Party (costumes encouraged but not mandatory) General Admission – $90 […]

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17 Dec

Over A Decade of Global Conservation: Celebrating GCF’s Worldwide Impact

Over a decade ago, Global Conservation Force (GCF) was founded by a coalition of American and South African wildlife professionals—individuals with decades of experience in wildlife rehabilitation, environmental and wildlife law enforcement, exotic and zoo veterinary practice, and anti-poaching operations across the United States, Africa, and Asia. From the outset, GCF has also drawn on advisors and specialists from a wide spectrum of fields, including community-based conservation, ecology, wildlife biology, technology, and zoological sciences. The vision was clear: to create a diverse and dynamic operational team capable of building, expanding, and elevating wildlife protection and conservation efforts on both grassroots and global scales.

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16 Dec

Becoming an Anti-Poaching, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Protection Instructor with Global Conservation Force

Global Conservation Force (GCF) operates in multiple countries, navigating diverse languages, cultures, and conservation priorities across the globe. At the heart of our work are our four pillars of conservation, which operate in tandem with community-based conservation, regional anti-poaching strategies, and invitation-only requests for GCF to assist in-situ, boots-on-the-ground field operations. For those passionate about wildlife protection and conservation, becoming a GCF Instructor represents one of the most dynamic and challenging opportunities in the field. Our instructors work directly in the Africa bush and other remote locations, often under extreme conditions and without the luxuries of modern civilization. They operate in environments that require both mental and physical resilience, as well as the ability to wear multiple hats: leading teams, mentoring new field staff, and executing mission-critical tasks.

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