22 September 2018 – World Rhino Day
World Rhino Day is an opportunity to celebrate an iconic species and remind everyone worldwide of the importance of safeguarding rhino for generations to come. Protecting and securing rhino is a huge task, one that takes an enormous amount of passion and commitment.
- Published in Conservation, Rhino
Numwa School Computer Donation
Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservation would like to express our gratitude to Steve Potter from Apple Crumble Macintosh Service and Support who so kindly donated an Apple Computer to our local Numwa School. This extremely generous donation was facilitated by one of our ex-volunteers, Rose Dunne. A very special women who volunteered at Imire last year and who has placed her care and concern for our Imire community at the forefront of her mind, we cannot thank Rose enough for her ongoing kindness and generosity.
This donation has changed the lives of many individuals at the local school, and it is thoughtful people like this who make such a positive massive impact in the lives of our community members.
Would you like to volunteer or be a part of this cause? If so, please contact us on [email protected] for further information.
Or please feel free to support the cause.
- Published in Community, Conservation, Rhino, Volunteers
Search for African travel bloggers!
Calling all Travel Bloggers! Are you passionate about Africa? Do you want to help drive #Community and #Wildlife Conservation programmes? Do you love to travel and gain an array of once in a lifetime experiences for minimal cost?
Look no further! Imire: Rhino & Wildlife Conservation is looking for passionate and creative people to come and share one or some of our many unique experiences in exchange for an inspirational and creative showcase of the diverse and endless opportunities we have to offer here.
Choose to focus on our Our Hands-on Rhino & Wildlife Conservation Programme, our Equine Programme, our Community Programmes or a guest experience at Imire Lodge.
Please contact Zuz on [email protected] to apply.
#zimbabwe #conservation #promotingtourism #imire #travel #instagram#africa
- Published in Community, Conservation, Imire Lodge, Rhino, Volunteers
Baby White Rhino!
A picture is worth a thousand words. Imire: Rhino & Wildlife Conservation is incredibly excited to announce the birth of our first ever white rhino calf. Moments like these are what we live and work for!
- Published in Conservation, Rhino
Project Murwi with Extremus K9
Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservation have been working closely on project Murwi with Extremus K9 over the last 8 months, with the incredible support of Harare International School to purchase and train a highly trained Dutch Shepherd dog, to assist us in our anti-poaching and tracking operations.
Phase 1 of our own operational dual role Dog Murwi’s training is being carried out in the UK at the Extremus K9 base and Phase 2 starts in March 2018, where Murwi will be deployed to Imire to begin her life as an operational Anti-Poaching Dog.
Reilly Travers from Imire and Darren Priddle from Extremus had the privilege of visiting Save Valley Conservancy and working with Bryce Clements and his top team of handlers, Matthias and Samuel alongside their dogs – Extremus K9′ trained Polaris and Rogue, who were sent to Save in August 2016. It was an absolute honour for Reilly Travers and members of the Imire team to watch such professional, well trained dogs, who play such a vital role in anti-poaching and tracking operations.
Darren Priddle said of the experience “Extremus Rogue and Polaris, who we sent over in August 2016, are some of the best operational dual role dogs I have seen to date. The intricate foundations we laid, alongside Bryce’s input and knowledge have allowed the dogs to become so proficient at tracking that they are easily capable of detecting 6+ hour old spore and commit to 10km+ tracks, including being able to do this all at night at just 2 years old. A true testament to the passion and dedication of Bryce Clements and his team of handlers, an amazing sight to behold and one we are super proud to have played an integral part in.”
The visit to Save Valley has given all at Imire further drive, motivating and inspiration for our own anti-poaching operations. We cannot wait to meet Murwi and have high hopes and great ambition that she too will join the ranks of Polaris and Rogue, and be one of the greatest tracking dogs and defenders of endangered rhino in Africa.
Thank you Harare International School, and Extremus K9 for this incredible opportunity to further protect our rhino. This effort really proves that one day does make a difference!
Would you like to help support us in incorporating Murwi, a future Anti-Poaching Dog into our conservancy in March 2018? Find out more about our efforts to raise funds here: https://www.extremusk9.co.uk/project-murwi.html
Your Donation will help towards the cost of a kennel for Murwi, ongoing food and veterinary costs, training and essential first aid kits for the handlers.
- Published in Conservation, Rhino
Imire Community Vocational Centre
Our community have been generously assisted by Susan Janetti of the Zimbabwe Gecko Society, and her wonderful Canadian Team of volunteers, in the building of a brand-new, fully functioning Vocational Centre.
The centre is packed to the hilt with incredible machinery, supplies and resources and offers local men and women a multitude of carpentry and craft skill development opportunities.
Women from the community get together on a regular basis and hand craft clothing and various other items for the surrounding community. This is a self-sustainable project, which enables female empowerment opportunities and accessible support for the community.
We are so grateful for Susans hard work and efforts put into this fantastic project and we cannot wait to share more with you about the produce that will come out of this exciting centre!
Project Murwi
A project that hits the heart of saving and protecting future Rhino populations across Africa. Extremus K9’s Murwi will be deployed to Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservation in February 2018. This is the front line of operational Anti Poaching Dog units, not just to deter would be poachers in poaching hot-spots, but to act as sworn protector and defender of a world renowned Rhino breeding programme. To say this is a special and meaningful project is an understatement, this is the future of conservation.
Without the support of H.I.S and their 24 hour run campaign this project would not be possible, we are dedicated to this project and with your help, we will be able to provide and offer continued conservation support to Imire, in the form of handler training, equipment, food and veterinary costs. Please visit our PayNow page if you would like to support this cause.
- Published in Conservation, Rhino
VAWZ Sterilization and Vaccination Campaign
Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservation were delighted to work along side Vawz in 2016, introducing for the first time to the Wedza Community the much needed campaign of sterilizing the dogs in the area. Vawz brought down a wonderful team of committed vets, who worked tirelessly for three days, educating and encouraging the rural people of the need to take on this responsibility. The welfare of the dogs after the operation was a joy to witness as was the pride of the owners.
This will hopefully be an on going programme, as the community members have realized the benefits of having a loyal one man dog by their side.
Harare International School 24 Hour Run
“What a difference a day can make.” Imire: Rhino and Wildlife Conservation are extremely proud to have taken part in a 24 hour run at Harare International School to raise money for an antipoaching dog to protect wildlife in Zimbabwe. For 24 hours, the whole community gets together to keep a sash moving for an entire day in order to raise money and awareness for a good cause! The Imire Team had a representative running for the full 24 hours! Thank you to Sharna Tobin and Brendan Tobin for inviting us to take part in this inspiring event.
Find out more about this wonderful initiative and Extremus K9 here: https://goo.gl/ZTD2pT
- Published in Conservation, Rhino
Game Capture
Imire strives to remain at the forefront of conservation in Zimbabwe. One of the most important roles of small conservancies is as a breeding nucleus for vital wildlife gene pools. Game capture and relocation is an essential part of conservation management and a perfect solution for the animals’ best interests for three reasons.Imire strives to remain at the forefront of conservation in Zimbabwe. One of the most important roles of small conservancies is as a breeding nucleus for vital wildlife gene pools. Game capture and relocation is an essential part of conservation management and a perfect solution for the animals’ best interests for three reasons.
1. Repopulation of wilderness areas where the species have been decimated through uncontrolled poaching
2. Strengthening and mixing the current gene pools between conservancy and wild populations.
3. Prevention of inbreeding in conservancy populations and velt management reducing possibilities of over grazing during the harsher dry seasons.
Imire is proud to have taken part in a ground-breaking capture involving sending healthy and viable population of more than 250 individual animals, including, Impala, Blesbok, wildebeest and warthog, from Zimbabwe to repopulate newly protected conservation areas all the way in DRC!The captures were carried out in two ways, with nets and with a make shift funnel leading directly into the truck. The net captures were undoubtedly voted the most adrenaline producing and exciting for our volutneers, definitely a once in a lifetime experience for us all.
The volunteers assisted the game capture team constructing a make shift rounded net with a radius of about 500m with an opening and curtains. We hid amongst tress within the net boma and waited. Working closely alongside the the incredibly talented capture team from AMWC volunteers and staff rounded up these animals, 10-20 at a time, like a cattle dog with sheep, and herded them into the boma. With the sounding siren, the curtain was closed, forming a boxed enclosure. The animals sprinted in all directions, eventually hitting the edges of the netted space.
This was the cue for “capturers” to run. Moving as fast as their legs would allow toward the animals fighting against the perimeters. We grabbed their legs, our partner blindfolding them to relax their strongest sense, and held them tightly. After a light sedative to help make the process as calm as possible we hoisted them onto our shoulders and carried the soon to be travelling animals, to the straw lined trucks. Next stop, the Congo.
Game capture was exciting, overwhelming, emotionally and physically testing for us all. An unbelievable experience for the team and volunteers at Imire. All involved will undoubtedly remember this unique time for many years to come, forever grateful to have been involved!
- Published in Conservation, Rhino