Pioneering a unique approach to community-based rhino conservation
A CHANCE encounter over 37 years ago changed the lives of two women after realizing that they share the same passion for wildlife conservation. The encounter connected Blythe Loutit and Ina Britz, who would later establish Namibia’s first rhino conservation project in 1982. Blythe's husband, Rudi later joined the organisation. Both Loutit and Britz have passed away but their efforts on conservation lingers through the work of the SRT. Britz died in August 1985, and Loutit several years later in June 2005.
SRT is a collaboration with government and local traditional leaders and founded to fill a critical gap in field-based conservation efforts at a crucial time when the future for the world’s largest population of black rhino persisting on formally unprotected lands hung in the balance. Today SRT is a beacon of hope for rhino conservation and our team is proud to continue the work to keep our rhinos save.
SRT is a collaboration with government and local traditional leaders and founded to fill a critical gap in field-based conservation efforts at a crucial time when the future for the world’s largest population of black rhino persisting on formally unprotected lands hung in the balance. Today SRT is a beacon of hope for rhino conservation and our team is proud to continue the work to keep our rhinos save.
One of the founding members, the late Blythe Loutit, with the team of trackers.
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Decades Later: Pictured the current Save the Rhino field team. We have grown and honor the work that was started many years ago.
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Simson Uri-Khob - Chief Executive Officer
Photo Credit: Marcus Westberg
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After achieving his MSc with Merit from the University of Kent, Simson became SRT’s Director of Research. In 2014, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of SRT.
Simson is a member of the African Rhino Specialist Group and winner of the Namibia Nature Foundation Environmental Award. Like all the best conservationists, Simson looks towards to the future with respect for the past. “I strongly believe that my success is due to the late Blythe Loutit and Mike Hearn, who both helped me and encouraged me all along. Now it is my turn to help make a difference. Through education and communication, I am able to pass on my knowledge to the next generation, and I know that my work will carry on. That’s why I love it.” Simson is a native son of Damaraland, who vast experience in all aspects of the organisation. He began his career at Save the Rhino Trust Namibia in 1991. Since then, he has held several positions within the organisation, including leader of the camel team and Director of Field Operations.
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Andrew Malherbe -Chief Operating Officer |
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Andrew started at SRT in January 2019: ‘The black rhino population in the north-west is unique in so many ways. This makes our work at SRT dynamic, challenging and extremely rewarding. It is truly inspiring to be a part of a team that is made up of so many dedicated individuals, with all energy focused on saving rhinos’.
As COO Andrew is responsible for overseeing operations are carried out in accordance with SRT’s Strategic Plan. Andrew is based in Swakopmund but travels regularly to our field bases. Andrew has been working in community conservation for over a decade. His academic background is Social Science and Development Studies. |
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Lesley Karutjaiva - Director of Field Operations
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Lesley is a born and bred Namibian and started his employment at Save the Rhino Trust in September 1993.
Lesley is as a hard diligent worker who excels in transferring skills to new field trackers and training of SRT trackers as well as Rhino Rangers. His field of expertise include, but are not limited to excellent photography, tracking and knowledge of the area we patrol and monitor. Skills that makes him a rarity and a much valued asset to SRT in the field is his administrative, supervisory and training abilities which are much needed given that the staff are mainly from the conservancies and not highly educated. Lesley won the Paradise 2019 African Ranger Award which recognizes outstanding field leadership amongst Conservationists and cements their place as the Wildlife Heroes of Africa. http://www.pfi.org.cn/pdf/2019-african-ranger-awards.pdf |
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Born in Minnesota (USA), Jeff has made northwest Namibia his home since 2003, when he was introduced to Save the Rhino Trust by the late Mike Hearn. This was shortly after completing his MSc in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town.
In 2006 he accepted an invitation to serve as Save the Rhino Trust’s Science Adviser and continues to hold this post under his employment with the Minnesota Zoo. Jeff brings scientific leadership to SRT by managing and analyzing SRT’s rhino monitoring data and conducting applied research on rhino ecology and tourism that supports decision-making. He also coordinates the Conservancy Rhino Ranger Support Group. He completed his PhD through Stellenbosch University on tourism as a rhino conservation tool in 2016. |
Dr Jeff Muntifering - Science Advisor
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Lorna Dax - Programme & Partnership Development Assistant
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Although born in the Kunene region, growing up Lorna spent most of her childhood days in central Namibia. Lorna joined SRT in January 2022, before joining SRT she worked as the Conservancy manager for one of the custodian conservancies we work with in the Kunene region.
Working alongside communities for over five years, she has an extensive knowledge of Community Based Natural Resource Management and conservation within North-west Namibia. Her background in community work will help us to strengthen and improve our collaboration with communal conservancies in the rhino landscape we operate in. She is passionate about women empowerment and community upliftment. |
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Born in the North of Namibia Alta's heart is and always will be in Namibia. She grew up on a farm between Grootfontein and Otavi and is thus no stranger to wildlife. Alta studied secretarial at Upington Technical College. She worked at Manica group companies as an Assistant Accountant. She left Manica in 2005 and with her accounting capabilities her next position she was hired as an Accountant and Contracts Administrator. Alta started to work at SRT in 2013 and quickly became a vital member of the team. With Alta's qualifications, she handles all of the financial side of things. She brought a good amount of order and various admin systems to make everyone's life easier. |
Alta van Schalkwyk - Finance Manager
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Members of the Save the Rhino Trust’s Board of Trustees:
Maxi Louis (Chairman) / Ginger Mauney / Amos Shikuya / Christopher Munwela / Daniel F Small / Alexandra Margull
We aim to provide a solid framework to enable the field operations and other programmes to function to maximum efficiency, with a well-run office and a highly motivated and enthusiastic team.
Maxi Louis (Chairman) / Ginger Mauney / Amos Shikuya / Christopher Munwela / Daniel F Small / Alexandra Margull
We aim to provide a solid framework to enable the field operations and other programmes to function to maximum efficiency, with a well-run office and a highly motivated and enthusiastic team.
Objectives:
- Trustees to review and approve an annual operating plan, with additional two-year projection, which is developed by the CEO and the Team in support of the strategic plan. This plan is to be approved before end November each year.
- Continue to develop the efficient functioning of the support team including finance, administration, fundraising and communications.
- Ensure that the organisation complies with legal requirements e.g.: legislation relating to an organisation for no gain as well as an employer; compliance with health, environmental and occupational safety standards; compliance with obligations imposed by the Ministry of the Environment and Tourism; the annual audit etc.
Gottlieb TjitanaSadly we have lost one of our brave and dedicated rhino warriors to an illness . Gottlieb, will be greatly missed by the team and those he crossed paths with during the time of his service in the rhino range communities.
We will always remember him for his unwavering passion for his work and the black rhinos. Our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends during this dark time in their life. |
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