The Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species is mobilizing Rotarians and Rotaractors to preserve and protect endangered species by improving global awareness and taking action. With a focus on rhinos, mountain gorillas, elephants, and orangutans, you’ll learn about new and ongoing partnerships and project opportunities for your club.

1. Rotarian Action Group
Endangered Species
Subject: Awareness & Protection of Endangered Species
Presenters : Tom Tochterman, Ph.D., Craig Spencer

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What are Rotarian Action Groups?
Rotarian Action Groups can act as
Volunteer Consultants for Rotary
Clubs and Districts
Their role is to enhance the work of
Rotary Clubs and Districts in their
area of expertise
RAG for Population and Development

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Examples of Rotarian Action Groups
Literacy
Blood Donation Peace
Malaria

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Why RAGs – To Provide Resources for Areas of Focus
Peace and Conflict Resolution
Maternal and Child Health
Basic Education and Literacy
Economic and Community Development
Disease Prevention and Treatment
Water and Sanitation

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Rotary Action Group Endangered Species

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Rotary Action Group Endangered Species: Background
Endangered species are driven largely by illicit wildlife trade:
• Environmental Crime
• Habitat Loss & Degradation
• Species Overexploitation
• Pollution
• Invasive Species and Disease
• Climate Change
IUCN. (2016). IUCN 2016: International Union for Conservation of Nature annual report 2016.
https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/46619
Nellemann, C., & United Nations Environment Programme. (2016). The rise of environmental crime: a growing threat to
natural resources, peace, development and security.
United Nations. (2016). World wildlife crime report 2016 trafficking in protected species. Place of publication not identified:
United Nations Pubns
World Wide Fund for Nature. (2016). Living planet report 2016: risk and resilience in a new era. Retrieved from
http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/lpr_living_planet_report_2016.pdf

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Rotary Action Group Endangered Species: Problem
African Wildlife Foundation

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Rotary Action Group Endangered Species: Purpose
The purpose of RAGES is simply to advance the reach of Rotary
and improve lives through stewardship of endangered species.

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RAGES
RAGES helps Save our Rhino South Africa:
• Providing tracking devices (ankle bracelets)
through the Chipembere Rhino Foundation
• Risk Boxes that include critical equipment to
rangers protecting wildlife and wild spaces.
*BRONZE RISK “BOX” $500
*SILVER RISK “BOX” $1,500
*GOLD RISK “BOX” $2,500
*DIAMOND RISK “BOX” $5,000

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RAGES
RAGES fights illicit wildlife crime:
• Empowering local individuals afflicted directly by
wildlife crime to engage in conservation.
• Supporting youth environmental education in
villages adjacent to wildlife crime ‘hotspots’.
Current supported projects include….
• Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit
• Bush Babies environmental education program.
• Say No! Rotary demand reduction campaign.

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The Greater Kruger National Park,
Republic of South Africa

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Illegal Rhino Horn Trade

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Who Uses Rhino Horn?
• Yemen: Ornamental
• China: Traditional
Medicine
• Vietnam: Status
symbol; medicinal,
ornamental.

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Crisis Mode and the
Preemptive Response - 2012

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Coalition Mission
• To make the Greater Kruger National Park the most difficult,
undesirable and risky area to poach.
• To develop a proud, sympathetic + patriotic community on our
boarders = allies to the park!
• To equally address the social, cultural, and economic
influences of poaching in addition to a common paramilitary
or law enforcement response.

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Coalition Key Strategies
• Deploy effective boots on the ground.
• Development of effective and affordable technology.
• Create a stronger pro-environmental ethos in communities
adjacent to the Kruger National Park

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Objectives & Predictive
Outcomes
• Early detection & crime prevention
• Monitoring, surveillance + compliance.
• Community by-in and an open window into the adjacent
communities.
• Addressing the social decay + false economy created by
rhino poaching.

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Stopping Gateway Crimes
• If a person can sneak into a reserve and set snares, he can evolve into a
poacher.
• Small-time poachers run the same risks and organized crime gangs.
• Local knowledge already gained
• Contacts in place
• BROKEN WINDOW SYNDROME

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APU Data Capture & Analytics

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Daily report for Managers

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APU Performance and Daily Evaluation

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APU activity must peak
at optimum incursion
times

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Resources deployed to enhance
early detection:
1. Patrols detect incursions
2. Cameras detect incursions
3. Pickets placed to detect
gunshots and rapid response

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Tracking outcomes = P.R.O.T.E.C.T
Model
(Predictive Routine Observation Theory Enhancing Conservation Techniques)

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Black Mambas: Who are they?
• 36 young rural African women
• 36 sisters, mothers, aunties, wives and future grandmothers!
• We are teachers and leaders!
• Proud defenders of our wildlife treasures

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They are role models!

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They have pride and self worth!

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They are ‘Champions of the Earth’!

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They cherish life!
They do not want to live in a village of
orphans!

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They do not want to live an a world
without animals!

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They are bread-
winners!
They have respect,
pride, and skills!
They have dignity
and an identity!
They are a family!

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It’s all about crime prevention and
disruption!

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Community Benefits

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Public Outreach

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What roles do the Black Mamba’s play
in anti-poaching?
• Five Mamba Stations on and around Balule and tribal land.

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1) Daily foot patrols on boundaries.

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2) Vehicle patrols at night.

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3) Regular roadblocks and vehicle
checks.

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4) Teaching 845 youth at 10 rural primary
schools and building environmental
resource centers.

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Contact Details
Rotary Action Group Endangered Species
Dr. Tom L. Tochterman
Phone: 425.359.5884
Email: Tom@RhinoMercy.org
www.endangeredrag.org