Showing the team behind rhino success story

Rhino Ops, a powerful new documentary that profiles one of South Africa’s most ambitious and successful anti-poaching interventions launched this week.

This film was produced by Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF), in partnership with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, and a team of emerging African filmmakers. The film documents the large-scale dehorning operation initiated at Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park since April 2024. Rhino Ops further offers a rare and intimate look into the frontline of rhino conservation and the courageous work done by Ezemvelo’s Game Capture unit.

“The film highlights the human stories behind the operation, focusing on Dumisani Zwane, in charge of game capture and field operations at Ezemvelo, whose leadership and dedication have been instrumental in the success of the programme,” said Noel Kok, Executive Director of NEWF.

Rhino poaching in South Africa escalated dramatically in 2009, with national losses peaking at over 1 000 rhinos a year. Hluhluwe iMfolozi alone lost nearly 40% of its rhino population, while Kruger National Park saw a staggering 75% decline. The surge was driven by demand in Asian markets, where rhino horn, made of keratin, is falsely believed to have medicinal properties.

In response, Ezemvelo in partnership with WWF-SA, launched a dehorning initiative in 2024, removing the horns of 1 071 rhinos in under three months. The operation, though logistically complex and costly, has proven highly effective with poaching incidents in the park dropping to single digits.

“Dehorning alone is not a silver-bullet solution, but it’s a vital deterrent. Its success depends on being complemented by other interventions such as smart fencing, drones, and camera trap initiatives. While we would have preferred not to dehorn our rhinos, we have come to accept that it is better to have a dehorned rhino than a dead one,” says Zwane.

The documentary captures the intensity and precision of the dehorning process. From helicopter darting to ground recovery, each procedure is carried out by a skilled team of rangers, veterinarians and field staff. Rhinos are tranquilised, blindfolded, and their horns carefully removed just above the growth point, a painless and quick process for the animal. Samples are collected for research, and each rhino is microchipped and V-notched for tracking.

The operation’s scale and speed were unprecedented, with teams dehorning up to 67 rhinos in a single day. Maintenance dehorning is now scheduled annually to prevent horn regrowth from making rhinos vulnerable again.

Rhino Ops is not only a conservation story, but also a filmmaking milestone. NEWF assembled a crew of young African filmmakers from South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi, offering them hands-on experience on a major international production. Instead of hiring a commercial crew, NEWF pitched the project as a unique growth opportunity to its fellows. Ezemvelo provided access to the dehorning operation as well as filming permits and accommodation.

“This was a chance to tell a story of success, not just struggle,” said Kok. "We wanted to shift the narrative and show what’s possible when conservation and creativity come together.”

Rhino Ops is now available on Wild Hope TV and has been submitted to international film festivals. It will also be used for educational screenings and community engagement programs, helping to raise awareness on rhino conservation, and inspire action across South Africa and beyond.

“Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is proud to share this story with the world, a story of resilience and hope. Rhino Ops is a testament to what can be achieved when conservationists, field staff, filmmakers, and communities work together protect one of Africa’s most iconic and important species,” says Vuyiswa Radebe, Head Biodiversity Conservation Operations at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

The documentary can be viewed at https://www.wildhope.tv/episode/rhino-ops/