Taronga is a founding member of the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and continues to provide financial and administrative support for many of its activities in both Asia and Africa. In addition, our veterinarians, pathologists and reproductive biologists have actively engaged in collaborations with the IRF, the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary at Way Kambas and the Asian Rhino Project to ensure the health of the rhinos and the viability of the population overall.
In Asia, Taronga supports the IRF and local NGO, YABI (Indonesian Rhino Foundation), to protect Sumatran and Javan Rhino species in Indonesia. In over six years not a single Sumatran Rhino has been poached from Way Kambas or Bukit Berisan Selatan National Parks and no Javan Rhino has been poached in 11 years. This fantastic outcome is due to the tireless efforts of the Rhino Protection Units (RPUs) on the ground; dedicated and highly trained teams that patrol the parks to stop poaching and snaring of rhinos and other species, prevent illegal logging and gather intelligence to ensure successful prosecution of wildlife criminals. The RPUs also work with local communities to provide incentives for communities to promote the National Parks and gain support for the protection of rhinos and other species.
In Africa the IRF focuses its Black Rhino work in Zimbabwe, where intensive efforts have led to the recovery of the species to more than 400 animals. This is now the fourth largest population in Africa. The population requires continued support as it increasingly faces serious poaching threats. Taronga supports monitoring and anti-poaching patrols that remove snares, provide veterinary treatment and rescue at-risk rhinos, moving them to safer areas.