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Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 6:40 pm
by wynand
Hey, thanks H.e. Nan, Duke, Flutterby, mouseinthehouse, Bushcraft, RP, RobertT, Okie.

Be assured that we'll keep it up as long as we're up to it (the GRU AirWing, or GRUWing for short).
Pilots: Jaco, Duncan, Koos, Maritza, Mark, Bruce, Wynand.
Len and Les of Jabiru SA with help from Jabiru Oz donated a brand new aircraft, fully kitted for counter insurgency ops. And the're sending parts for line maintenance.
Dynamic Insurance Brokers in George is paying the premiums.
SANTAM is giving them discount.
Dennis Jankelow & Associates is giving the pilots a discount on their excess insurance even though it is "game work".
SA Flyer Magazine, Cirrus Aircraft, Lancet laboratories and Hansia Aerospace are the businesses that keep us stocked with fuel.
Francois Gouws, Gary Ressel, Paul Luff, Rob Kennedy, Gert Swanepoel and Roel Stausebach are individuals who have opened their wallets most generously to service that same fuel and oil account.

And we don't seek .gov recognition, but it would be nice if the reserves we serve can all have radios and other field kit.

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 6:57 pm
by Richprins
I was just thinking, wynand...don't know if one should post pics of the antipoaching crews? In general we don't post pics of people without their permission, unless they are offenders? :-?

But thanks for the chat today, and your judgement re the pics... ;-)

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 7:09 pm
by Duke
wynand wrote: Len and Les of Jabiru SA with help from Jabiru Oz donated a brand new aircraft, fully kitted for counter insurgency ops. And the're sending parts for line maintenance.
Jabiru Aircraft ;-)

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 7:58 am
by wynand
Richprins wrote:I was just thinking, wynand...don't know if one should post pics of the antipoaching crews?
Thanks RP. These pics were posed for and the subjects are aware that they're being seen. The pics have already appeared in SA Flyer Magazine. There are clandestine operators too, and their pics aren't shown.

Here's a threesome you don't want on your spoor. If you run, we spot you from the air. If you hide, Ruger sniffs you out.
Image
Image

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 8:38 am
by wynand
The reason I'm posting these pics is to offer forum members some images to reconcile with their impressions of what's going on in the Lowveld.

The message that I'm trying to convey is that the terrible increase in rhino deaths is not so much a result of slackness, corruption and incompetence as it is the effect of an exponential increase in poaching effort.

A counter-insurgency campaign has always been a costly affair. The insurgents operate cheaply, striking at vulnerable targets, then retreating to safety. The defenders have to be deployed 24/7 on a wide front and have to react to incidents behind their own lines. A few bands of poachers can keep an army of thousands occupied.

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 9:46 am
by Flutterby
Really great info coming from you Wynand. \O I like Ruger ! ;-) (I presume that's the dog!) =O:

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 9:57 am
by nan
I like Ruger too 0/0
Duke, I can't open the link ;-)

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 4:50 pm
by Richprins
Thanks again wynand!

Wow! Jacques Kallis and his dog! =O:

Link works for me, nana? -O-

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 5:29 pm
by nan
Richprins wrote: Link works for me, nana? -O-
still nothing 0= :-(
I think I have a problem with Facebook O**

Re: Rhino Poaching 2014

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:16 am
by Mel
Ja, must be on your side, nan. The link works for me as well. :-?