Despite international bans, demand for rhino horn continues to fuel sophisticated poaching syndicates. Between January and June this year, South Africa lost 195 rhinos to poaching, and Kruger has seen at least 400 lost annually since 2020.<\/p>\n
Dehorning does not harm the rhino. The procedure is much like trimming a fingernail: a veterinarian tranquilizes the animal, removes the horn just above the growth plate, treats the area, and within 20 minutes the rhino is up again, walking away safely. The horn will regrow at about six centimeters per year, which means the process needs to be repeated every 18 months.<\/p>\n
By removing the horn, we take away the very thing poachers are after \u2013 and in doing so, give the rhino a fighting chance to live.<\/p>\n
![\"6H9A6891\"](\"https:\/\/safarifrank.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/6H9A6891.jpg\" "\\"Rhino")
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Our contribution<\/strong><\/h2>\nTo support this operation, SAFARI FRANK contributed R150,000 towards the dehorning and a further R150,000 for the equipment needed by the K9 anti-poaching unit and the ranger training team on the ground.<\/p>\n
CEO Johan Steenhuisen explained that supporting dehorning is one of the most direct ways to protect rhinos in reserves like these, but the commitment doesn\u2019t end there. Rangers need the right tools, weapons, GPS collars for their dogs, and safety equipment to do their dangerous work effectively.<\/p>\n
For Frank, Co-founder of SAFARI FRANK, the experience was deeply personal. He described how, as a trained guide, seeing a rhino without its horn was emotional, but if that sacrifice meant the animal\u2019s survival, it was worth it. The operation, he reflected, was a reminder of why SAFARI FRANK was started in the first place – to make safaris a force for good.<\/p>\n
![\"6H9A6913\"](\"https:\/\/safarifrank.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/6H9A6913-e1759159438849.jpg\" "\\"SAFARI")
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Conservation in action<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe operation itself was a masterclass in teamwork. A fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter helped locate and guide the rhino into open terrain. A wildlife vet darted the animal, administered oxygen, and monitored every breath. Rangers secured the area, while the reserve\u2019s conservation team ensured everything ran smoothly.<\/p>\n
During the brief time the rhino was immobilized, DNA samples were taken, a microchip fitted, and the horn carefully removed. Minutes later, the reversal drug was given, and the rhino was back on its feet, free to roam.<\/p>\n
Wildlife vet Dr. Ben Muller, who oversaw the procedure, explained that the rhino doesn\u2019t feel pain and that the process is exactly like cutting a fingernail. From dart to release, the entire operation takes less than 20 minutes, and the animal\u2019s welfare remains the top priority.<\/p>\n\n\t\t
<\/p>\nThe operation itself was a masterclass in teamwork. A fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter helped locate and guide the rhino into open terrain. A wildlife vet darted the animal, administered oxygen, and monitored every breath. Rangers secured the area, while the reserve\u2019s conservation team ensured everything ran smoothly.<\/p>\n
During the brief time the rhino was immobilized, DNA samples were taken, a microchip fitted, and the horn carefully removed. Minutes later, the reversal drug was given, and the rhino was back on its feet, free to roam.<\/p>\n
Wildlife vet Dr. Ben Muller, who oversaw the procedure, explained that the rhino doesn\u2019t feel pain and that the process is exactly like cutting a fingernail. From dart to release, the entire operation takes less than 20 minutes, and the animal\u2019s welfare remains the top priority.<\/p>\n\n\t\t