African Wildlife and Environment Issue 67

FRIENDS & CLUBS

Photograph: Carel Loubser

A rhino being dehorned (Photographs: Terry Finney)

achievements. Currently its membership totals approximately 600 members, and this increases on a yearly basis. The application process has been vastly improved with new and existing members being able to apply/renew their membership online on the new FOR website (www.friendsofrietvlei.org). Since its formation, the FOR group has predominantly been involved with ongoing maintenance and improvement efforts in the Reserve. It has to date built five bird hides and one panoramic lookout in the Reserve. The hides are one of the key attractions offered by the Reserve, with birders and photographers frequenting these on a regular basis to tick off some of the 400 plus bird species found here. At the end of 2016 the goal was to make access

to the hides more wheelchair-friendly. To date two of the hides and the Panorama look-out point have already been converted and upgraded. Furthermore, we are also installing support rails in the adjacent toilet facilities. Depending on funding, these efforts will be continued to include all the other hides, where possible. Conservation efforts The FOR is also actively involved in conservation efforts in the Reserve. The conservation of white rhino is very important to the Friends and all efforts are made to ensure and improve the survival of this species on the Reserve. Currently the Reserve has a healthy, growing population, with two new calves being born in 2017. FOR provides supplementary feed for the rhinos,

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