Resilient. Innovative. Global.
RHCRU - US is working to ensure a successful balance among human and wildlife communities across Southern Africa through education, research and collaboration. We seek efficient, innovative and locally compatible solutions to Southern African challenges of poaching, trafficking and land management. Help us build a future where people value living in cooperation with wildlife.
Working in Cooperation
The Rory Hensman Conservation and Research Unit - United States (RHCRU-US)
is an independent, non-profit corporation based in the US. We have been inspired by and serve in cooperation with the original RHCRU in Bela Bela, South Africa making possible extensive on-the-ground research and development.
Our network comprises passionate individuals and corporations — creators, researchers, educators and patrons — eager to ensure human communities and wildlife, especially elephants, co-exist successfully across Southern Africa.
Our close partner organization is Adventures with Elephants (AWE). AWE has been established in the Bela Bela community of Limpopo, South Africa for the last ten years as a top educational tourist destination for people from all over the world. AWE is also a renowned elephant research center. The elephants live a free-range life on a reserve that they share with other wildlife, and are cared for by a dedicated, passionate and experienced team. We are grateful to AWE for their support of our research and educational programs.
Activities
We aim to find win-win solutions to reducing conflict between rural communities and wild elephants through innovative products and positive feedback.
Our goal is to educate the public, governments, NGOs, and international collaborators on several conservation concerns facing Southern African wildlife.
Ensuring a successful balance among humans and wildlife means urban and rural community support through training, education and sustainable livelihoods.
Current research focuses on tracking, search and rescue, anti-poaching, disease detection, building a DNA database, elephant translocation and contraband detection.
Elephants in Need
The COVID-19 Pandemic has touched each of us in some way — many of our families and friends are suffering. It is easy to overlook the challenges facing our wildlife friends. The seven elephants at Adventures with Elephants are involved in numerous research projects benefitting the entire species and their communities. AWE relies on tourists for a majority of their income. Travel and social restrictions have resulted in large scale cancellations to the facility resulting in furloughs and cutbacks in order to ensure proper elephant care. We are asking you to consider making a donation to help feed and house these magnificent elephants and to keep the visitor center from closure.
