Our Impacts
Endangered Species protection & wildlife management
Black rhinos protection and conservation.
Once widespread across the African continent, black rhino populations experienced a catastrophic 95% decline between 1970 and 1994—driven largely by poaching. Today, the species remains classified as critically endangered. But thanks to decades of targeted conservation efforts, populations in certain areas have begun to recover. One of these strongholds is the Savé Valley Conservancy, one of the world’s few “plus 100 rhino populations“, where Sango accounts for nearly a quarter of the total area.
Sango plays a central role in protecting and managing this recovering population. Through its long-standing commitment to rhino conservation, the conservancy has helped transform the area into one of Zimbabwe’s last remaining safe havens for black rhinos— among the largest remaining populations in Africa. These rhinos are not just surviving here, across the Save Valley Conservancy, the black rhino population has grown at an average net rate of 10.10% over the past four years and is now nearing its biological carrying capacity, demonstrating that committed, science-driven conservation can restore endangered species.
At the heart of this success lies Sango’s collaboration with the ATS Rhino Monitoring and Protection Unit (RMPU). Primarily staffed by members of the surrounding communities, this team is dedicated to the constant surveillance of rhino’s location, health and vulnerability. Risk assessments are conducted based on proximity to boundaries, road networks, and real-time intelligence from local sightings. Risk levels are constantly assessed using factors such as proximity to boundaries, road access, and field intelligence. All RMPU teams carry inReach devices—satellite-linked GPS units that record patrol coverage and allow rapid response in the event of a threat.
Rhino protection efforts are further reinforced by a broader Natural Resources Protection Unit, which includes aerial surveillance, a specialist anti-poaching canine team, and general rangers. Together, these teams form a coordinated, multi-layered strategy to protect rhinos from threats while maintaining high-quality field monitoring.
Every rhino on the conservancy is individually identified through a precise notching system This allows the team to reliably confirm identities through photo-verification during sightings, track individual movements, and monitor behaviour and health over time.
Sango’s efforts are not only securing its own rhino population—they are actively contributing to the recovery of one of Africa’s most endangered species. In a country once devastated by poaching, the return of the black rhino stands as proof that determined and science- and community-based conservation works.
Key figures:
100%
of rhinos in the conservancy individually notched and monitored
131,127.6 km
patrolled on foot during 2024
10.10% average net growth
rate for black rhino population over the past four years on the SVC
This Project contributes to
