In a bid to write them from the ongoing poaching crisis , conservationist have embark on a monstrous but admirable project that aims to relocate at least 100 rhino from zones with the highest poaching rates in South Africa to the lowest poaching areas in the whole of Africa , Botswana . The non-profit-making organisation behind the deputation , Rhinos Without Borders , hopes that this bold move will not only shield the vulnerable creature from poach , but will help seed fresh populations in the natural state .

“ This is an emergency intervention , ” conservationist and filmmaker Beverly Joubert toldCBS News . “ I do believe that if we do n’t do this , rhino could go extinct in certain parts of Africa . ”

Poaching is a serious menace to rhinos . Since 1970 , grim rhino universe have been slashed from around16,000 to just 4,000 . Thanks to ongoing preservation drive , white rhino numbers have rebounded after pussyfoot hazardously close to extinction in 1970 , but there are still only around 20,000 will .

Around80%of the human race ’s rhinos live in South Africa , making this country a hotspot for poaching . Last year alone , more than 1,200 rhinoswere obliterate by poacher here , which run out at roughly one every eight   hours . Since 2008 , there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of poaching in South Africa , which is primarily driven by the growing demand for rhino horns in Asian body politic , in the main China and Vietnam . Despite the fact there is zero evidence that it has any medicinal value , ground - up rhino trump is sold on the grim marketplace to do by a variety of ailments , from hangovers to Crab .

“ It ’s smoke and mirror ; it does nothing , ” environmentalist Derek Joubert toldNational Geographic . “It ’s like chewing your fingernail . ”

Determined to ram change , the Jouberts establishedRhinos Without Borderslast class . They lately kicked off their challenging relocation project by moving 10 rhinos from reserves in South Africa to a protected area in the area . The animals are currently being tight monitored for wellness problems and treat as necessary , but all being well they should be fly to an unrevealed area in Botswana within the next few calendar month .

If all goes to design , a further 25 will be relocated this year , follow by another 65 in 2016 . At$45,000a pop , this project does not fall chinchy , but the match has so far raised $ 280,000 , mostly through crowdfunding . It is also not without danger ; the animate being need to be sedate before they can be move , which has around a 2 - 5 % mortality rate . While an expensive option , flying the animals has its merit because it means that they require to be calm for a curt point than if they were moved by land .

The idea is to select rhinos currently living in crowded areas that can not support any more rhino . Not only do these thickly populated area draw in poacher , but overcrowding also reduce the giving birth charge per unit . The animals will then be moved to parks in Botswana with the hope of doubling the rhino population in this country within the next yoke of years .

Unlike South Africa , where some communities plump for poach in return for a cut of the profits , Botswana has a zero - tolerance insurance towards poach . The government has also enlisted the help of the armed forces to defend against poachers , who can be de jure shot and killed if catch .

[ ViaRhinos Without Borders , National GeographicandCBS News ]