A situation that calls for our urgent action
There has been a steep decline in the horse numbers of the Kaapsehoop Wild Horses due to African horse sickens, road accidents, veld fires and poaching. However, the poaching incidents have grown steadily and has reached the point where the survival of these horses is seriously threatened.
The Kaapsche Hoop Conservancy
“Save Our Wild Horses” Funding Request
Why do we need funding?
The Kaapschehoop wild horses are a unique phenomenon due to them not being owned by anyone and roams across large areas that are not fenced. There are various theories surrounding their origins. Some believe they are descendants of horses abandoned by British forces during the Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902). Others believe they were left behind by fortune seekers during the Kaapschehoop gold rush, when mining camps faded, and settlers moved on. Some of the horses are also believed to have been left on the escarpment by individuals over the years, and that these horses joined the wild horses. Be that as it may, they stay shrouded in mystery.
The Village volunteers try to keep eyes on these horses over a very large area (more than 13 000 hectares and around 600km of dirt roads) which spans across Sappi (South African Pulp and Paper Industrie Ltd), Safcol (South African Forestry Company SOC Ltd) and DFFE (Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment) properties, as well as the Kaapschehoop Village and surrounding area.
Some of the residents of Kaapschehoop have taken it upon themselves, from a volunteering perspective, to look out for these horses as far as possible regarding their wellness. Our principle is that only when human actions results in injury or sickness will the volunteers try to assist an injured or sick animal and bring in veterinary services where necessary. Our motto is “Help us keep our horses wild”. A lot of the wellness time and effort spent on the horses are self-funded, with further support through the continuous donations from the residents themselves and other horse loving donors.
Over the last couple of years, we have experienced a steep decline in our horse numbers due to African horse sickness, road accidents, veldfires and poaching. Unfortunately, poaching incidents have been steadily growing and is now further threatening the survival of our horses. If we don’t urgently intervene in their security, they might be lost to all of us soon due to the low numbers left.
The model of “informally” looking out for our wild horses is not sustainable anymore against poaching and requires urgent security solutions to be put in place to ensure their future.
As per our current Village volunteers and their monitoring efforts, the horses are in 8 bands (small herds), spread across the vast area they roam. These bands do change occasionally as stallions join or leave a band.
Can we save them with the current low numbers?
YES!
but the growth in their numbers will be very slow and needs time.
WE NEED TO BUY TIME.
Our horse numbers have declined as follow:
• 2010 to 2020: estimate 180 horses (numbers as per informal censuses run by the Village)
• 2023: 71 horses, 3 donkeys (informal Village census)
• 2024: 69 horses, 5 donkeys (Merijn Hemels (supported by Adele Willenbrock) census (student from Netherlands that conducted research on the horses over a period of 3 months)
• 2025 (Sept onwards):
o Estimate 36 horses (number varies as per sightings logged at a point in time)
o 13 donkeys (some good news here as they have shown growth)
o Also to note: Through the last poaching incident (early Sept) we lost 4 horses in the surrounding area (1 stallion and 2 mares from the Village band and 1 pregnant mare from Horse Trails (which in effect adds up to 5 horses poached…)). The poached stallion has left behind 2 pregnant mares and 1 foal in his band. One of the mares already lost her foal of which we think was stress related. The second foal was also born and is currently managing, even thought he was injured as part of the new stallions taking over the mares, but is monitored closely (a further knock-on effect regarding poaching and the impact on the horse bands).
Can we save them with the current low numbers? YES, but the growth in their numbers will be very slow and needs time over many years in an environment of protection.
What will the funding be used for?
Immediate steps: Horse Security
As an immediate response to try prevent further poaching incidents in the short term as far as possible, the following efforts have been made:
• A forensic wildlife investigator was appointed to support gathering relevant information towards building a criminal case. These cases take time but some good inroads have been made.
• The poaching incident was reported to Ngodwana SAPS; a case has been opened and transferred to the stock theft unit.
• Interim thermal drone support is provided by the SAPPI Security team as and when requested (a long-term drone solution will require further funding).
• Patrols by the Kaapschehoop community volunteers and mountain rangers continue on a more formalised and regular basis in the surrounding areas.
• Security trail cameras for monitoring key areas have been set up and monitored (as donated by Villagers and Private donors). These have shown to be very successful.
• A forensic wildlife investigator was appointed to support gathering relevant information towards building a criminal case. These cases take time but some good inroads have been made.
• The poaching incident was reported to Ngodwana SAPS; a case has been opened and transferred to the stock theft unit.
• Interim thermal drone support is provided by the SAPPI Security team as and when requested (a long-term drone solution will require further funding).
• Patrols by the Kaapschehoop community volunteers and mountain rangers continue on a more formalised and regular basis in the surrounding areas.
• Security trail cameras for monitoring key areas have been set up and monitored (as donated by Villagers and Private donors). These have shown to be very successful.
Immediate steps: Horse Wellness
• The indirect impact of poaching (especially when a stallion is poached), new stallions will eventually take over the mares. Any new foals can struggle through this process as they land in the middle of a “battle”. We will try support any injured horse as far as possible due to the low number of wild horses left, we need to try save each and every one of them as far as possible.
Our surrounding community, businesses and private donors have stepped up in many ways for our horses since the last poaching incident, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. However, further large funding will be required to ensure sustainable security solutions are implemented.
Our surrounding community, businesses and private donors have stepped up in many ways for our horses since the last poaching incident, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. However, further large funding will be required to ensure sustainable security solutions are implemented.
Longer term solutions: Horse Security
The above immediate efforts help buy us time to get longer-term security solutions in place. Some of them are:
• A sponsored 4 x 4 vehicle or vehicles with fuel will help tremendously in covering the large horse roaming areas, and especially more difficult to reach areas. Not all volunteers have 4 x 4 vehicles and are limited to specific areas they can reach.
• Electronic tagging and tracking of horses. The best methods are in process of being researched with industry experts. It will assist tremendously in monitoring the vast area the horses roam in.
• Formal foot patrols on the ground that will cover the large horse roaming area 24/7 and be our eyes and ears on the ground (we will need to provide them with the relevant communication tools, weatherproof clothing, transport and accommodation accordingly).
• Thermal drone support on a permanent basis.
• Further building and leveraging our relationships with our surrounding communities and businesses to collectively look after our horses (layered security that ultimately benefits the environment, wild horses, other wild animals as well as the people living in the area).
• A sponsored 4 x 4 vehicle or vehicles with fuel will help tremendously in covering the large horse roaming areas, and especially more difficult to reach areas. Not all volunteers have 4 x 4 vehicles and are limited to specific areas they can reach.
• Electronic tagging and tracking of horses. The best methods are in process of being researched with industry experts. It will assist tremendously in monitoring the vast area the horses roam in.
• Formal foot patrols on the ground that will cover the large horse roaming area 24/7 and be our eyes and ears on the ground (we will need to provide them with the relevant communication tools, weatherproof clothing, transport and accommodation accordingly).
• Thermal drone support on a permanent basis.
• Further building and leveraging our relationships with our surrounding communities and businesses to collectively look after our horses (layered security that ultimately benefits the environment, wild horses, other wild animals as well as the people living in the area).
Longer term solutions: Horse Wellness
• The current work of supporting sick or injured horses or foals will continue as always.
• The Blue Swallow reserve (where a lot of our horses’ roam) has old open mine shafts (dating back from the alluvion gold rush in the 1880s). We need to fence these off to protect the horses from falling in.
• The Blue Swallow reserve (where a lot of our horses’ roam) has old open mine shafts (dating back from the alluvion gold rush in the 1880s). We need to fence these off to protect the horses from falling in.
How will the "Save our wild horses" project be managed?
Kaaschehoop village is formally registered as a Conservancy (non-profit orgnisation) with a formally voted Management Committee. The project will be managed by the Kaapschehoop Conservancy Committee, in conjunction with the Wild Horses sub-committee. All finances will be managed as part of the Kaapschehoop Conservancy NPO.
Note: we are in process of registering the Conservancy NPO to be tax exempt (not in place yet).
The Conservancy Banking details:
Kaapschehoop Conservancy
Absa Bank
Savings Account: 912 061 9813
Branch Code: 632 005
Reference: Save our horses
Kaapschehoop Conservancy
Absa Bank
Savings Account: 912 061 9813
Branch Code: 632 005
Reference: Save our horses
What benefits do we all get by saving the wild horses
• You will help save these wild horses that have been part of the rich history of the area. Protecting a national asset. And protecting them for future generations.
• You will help sustain the main tourism attraction (wild horses, wildlife and environment) in the area, contributing to sustaining guest houses, restaurants, and tourism activities in Kaapschehoop and surrounding areas, sustaining a multitude of jobs (in a country where job shedding has reached dire levels).
• You will support conserving not just the wild horses, but also other indigenous animals (it includes Gray duikers, grysbok, reedbuck, civets, servals, dassies, mongooses, baboons, vervet monkeys, and many more) and plants (Kaapschehoop fynbos and Aloes) in the surrounding areas and nature reserve. Not only the horses are being poached...
• You will help sustain the main tourism attraction (wild horses, wildlife and environment) in the area, contributing to sustaining guest houses, restaurants, and tourism activities in Kaapschehoop and surrounding areas, sustaining a multitude of jobs (in a country where job shedding has reached dire levels).
• You will support conserving not just the wild horses, but also other indigenous animals (it includes Gray duikers, grysbok, reedbuck, civets, servals, dassies, mongooses, baboons, vervet monkeys, and many more) and plants (Kaapschehoop fynbos and Aloes) in the surrounding areas and nature reserve. Not only the horses are being poached...
We look forward to your participation in a project close to all our hearts.
Contact us on kaapschehoopvillage@gmail.com
Help us keep our horses wild
