A Testament to Conservation
The Rhino Snare Sculpture
The Rhino Snare Sculpture is more than just a work of art—it is a powerful symbol of resilience, conservation, and the fight against poaching. This sculpture represents the lives saved by removing these cruel and indiscriminate traps, constructed from thousands of cable snares collected during anti-poaching patrols across Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Every piece of wire in this statue once posed a deadly threat to Africa’s wildlife. Now, transformed into a striking tribute, it stands as a reminder of our duty to protect our natural heritage.
A Collective Effort to Save Wildlife
The creation of this sculpture was made possible through the dedication of over 100 field rangers, conservationists, volunteers, and school groups, who together contributed an estimated 112,000 hours of patrolling and snare removal. Even conservation dogs played a crucial role, with approximately 40 highly trained K9s assisting in these operations.
Crafting the statue itself took 400 hours, with meticulous effort to ensure its powerful presence. Built to fit within a shipping container for ease of transport, the sculpture weighs 2.0 tons and measures 5.7 meters in length, 123 cm in width, and 197 cm at its highest point.
To honor the fallen K9 heroes who dedicated their lives to conservation, their identification tags have been placed on the sculpture’s horns—a lasting tribute to their bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Honoring Our Fallen K9 Heroes
🐾 K9 Zingela – Weimaraner, Conservation Dog
🐾 K9 Vixen – Eastern German Shepherd, Patrol Dog
🐾 K9 Max – Belgian Malinois, Patrol Dog
🐾 Yule – Greyhound, Rescued Poacher’s Dog
🐾 K9 Valkyrie – Black German Shepherd, Patrol Dog
🐾 K9 Whakala – Bloodhound x Foxhound, Tracking Dog
🐾 K9 Assegai – Belgian Malinois, Patrol Dog
🐾 K9 Gypsy – Shepherd, Patrol Dog
🐾 K9 Shaka – Belgian Malinois, Patrol Dog
🐾 K9 Diesel – Weimaraner, Conservation Dog
🐾 K9 Landa – Weimaraner, Conservation Dog
🐾 K9 Anubis - Black German Shepherd, Conservation Dog
🐾 K9 Manzi – Weimaraner, Conservation Dog
Why support the Rhino Snare?
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Will provide much-needed financial relief for the K9 Conservation Unit
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Help to cover critical veterinary care expenses
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Vehicle maintenance, and emergency response services for surrounding security teams.
