Our History:
Blythe Loutit and first team of SRT trackers Photo credit SRT.
In 1982, prior to Namibia’s Independence, SRT was formed to monitor the last remaining rhinos in the Kunene and Erongo regions.
From a very humble beginning of an artist, author and passionate conservationist, Blythe Loutit had the desire to put an end to the poaching of rhino that started escalating and reached exorbitant levels in the 1980’s. Financed by a few thousand rand and sale of her artwork, using her private Land Rover, rhino monitoring patrols began.
Our approach was to hire respected individuals from local communities to perform regular anti-poaching patrols. By 1986, SRT was supporting 3 tracking teams and 10 community game guards and had established a more systematic monitoring programme.
From a very humble beginning of an artist, author and passionate conservationist, Blythe Loutit had the desire to put an end to the poaching of rhino that started escalating and reached exorbitant levels in the 1980’s. Financed by a few thousand rand and sale of her artwork, using her private Land Rover, rhino monitoring patrols began.
Our approach was to hire respected individuals from local communities to perform regular anti-poaching patrols. By 1986, SRT was supporting 3 tracking teams and 10 community game guards and had established a more systematic monitoring programme.
SRT also developed a photographic and life history database on rhinos in the region. This information formed the basis of what is now then longest running data base of black rhinos.
Our Impact:
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Relationship between long-term trends in rhino monitoring relative contributions (ranger field days) between NGO
staff / Conservancy Rhino Rangers and poaching trends.
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Meet our Team
Management:
Simson Uri-Khob - Chief Executive Officer
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In 2014, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of SRT.
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.” |
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. |
Dr Jeff Muntifering - Science Advisor
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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. |
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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. |
Alta van Schalkwyk - Financial Manager
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Alta started to work at SRT in 2013 and quickly became a vital member of the team. Alta is responsible for all financial management at the trust. 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. |
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Members of the Save the Rhino Trust’s Board of Trustees:
Ginger Mauney / Amos Shikuya / Christopher Munwela / Alexandra Margull
Ginger Mauney / Amos Shikuya / Christopher Munwela / Alexandra Margull