Namibia has the largest free-roaming black rhino population in the world. Sadly, many have succumbed to poaching over the last 20 years. Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) plays an important role in protecting Namibia’s rhinos, especially on communal lands in the northwest and, more recently, northeast. One of its conservation strategies is involving young people, who are receptive to such initiatives.
On 16 July 2025, the Namibian Youth Chamber of Environment (NYCE) hosted a webinar featuring guest speaker Lorna Dax, the Programme and Partnership Development Assistant at Save the Rhino Trust Namibia. During the webinar, Dax highlighted SRT’s achievements, challenges and future plans, specifically through the lens of youth involvement in conservation.
Overview of Save the Rhino Trust
Save the Rhino Trust has been monitoring approximately 25,000 square kilometres of rhino territory in the northwestern communal areas since 1982. They recently expanded their operations to include Nyae Nyae Conservancy in the northeast.
A key aspect of SRT’s work is the Conservancy Rhino Ranger Programme (CRRP), which now supports more than 70 rhino rangers, 13 of which are female, operating within 14 custodian conservancies. Over the last 10 years this programme has made significant progress despite facing challenges of limited resources and frequent changes in conservancy leadership. SRT also uses donkeys and mules for patrols in the Kunene and Nyae Nyae landscape. These patrols help monitor rhino populations and prevent poaching by reaching remote areas where vehicle patrols are not possible.
The Ranger Welfare Programme ensures that all field staff are trained in basic first aid, with rangers having access to routine medical check-ups and telephonic doctor consultations. Camps are also equipped with well-stocked first aid kits. These measures are put in place to maintain the well-being of frontline conservation workers who operate in harsh conditions.
© SRT NamibiaChallenges and opportunities in rhino conservation
Poaching is the biggest challenge rhinos face, which is the most significant threat that rhino rangers in the Kunene and Nyae Nyae areas are working to combat. Other issues include drought, increased running costs (food, fuel etc.), reduced local partner investment and conflicting land uses like mining.
Despite these difficulties, Dax highlighted that SRT uses strategic collaborations to make their funding go further. For example, the Southern African Wildlife College and Braveheart Leadership Course enabled some SRT staff to get training, leadership development and other field skills. Partnerships with tourism operators also provides significant funding for conservancies that host rhinos, as they offer special rhino tracking activities for their guests that involve the community rhino rangers.
Community outreach and youth engagement
In terms of youth outreach, Dax revealed that the Reading with Rhinos programme has reached over 1,000 children across various schools in the Kunene, Otjozondjupa (Tsumkwe) and Erongo regions. In addition, the Rhino Cup Youth League (RCYL) includes football leagues for boys and girls, strengthening conservation awareness through sports. SRT also partners with local artists to spread conservation messages through music. This enables young boys and girls to do what they enjoy – singing, dancing and playing sports – while learning about their role in conserving rhinos and other wildlife.
On the research side, Dax explained that they are planning to establish a research centre for interns and researchers. They cannot yet host volunteers due to the sensitivity of their work. Young people are nonetheless encouraged to contribute to rhino conservation through awareness campaigns, school outreach programmes and community projects.
Conclusion
The webinar demonstrated that community engagement and local partnerships are crucial for the success of rhino conservation efforts. Lorna Dax emphasised that conservation equals collaboration, pointing out the role Namibian youth play as future guardians of the country’s natural heritage.
Click here to download Lorna Dax’s presentation (pdf, 24 mb)