For over 15 years, Relate has made opportunity our touchstone for meaningful change. On this World Rhino Day, Relate Bracelets is proud to share the story of how community, conservation, and collaboration are coming together to protect one of Africa’s most iconic and endangered species: the rhino.
Hope Woven by Hand
To date, more than R600 000 has been raised for rhino conservation—all through bracelets lovingly hand-strung by township gogos (grandmothers). For these women, each bead threaded is not only a way to support themselves and their families, but also a way to contribute to protecting wildlife that is part of our shared heritage.
Their work is made possible through a chain of impact, the wonderful retail partners committed to environmental sustainability, and participating lodges and camps within South Africa’s reserves who champion Relate Bracelets as part of their conservation ethic. It is this web of partnerships that makes real, lasting change possible.
Our Causes in Action
African Wildlife Vets & The Black Rhino Conservation Ecology Project
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
In Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the birthplace of modern rhino conservation and today the epicentre of poaching, an urgent conservation action is underway. African Wildlife Vets and the Black Rhino Conservation Ecology Project are leading a massive dehorning programme, supported by veterinary expertise, ecological research, and cutting-edge tracking technology.
Regular dehorning, reinforced with monitoring and security, has already reduced poaching by over 67%. These measures not only safeguard individual rhinos but also provide invaluable insights into how rhino populations can recover for generations to come. Every bracelet purchased helps fund this frontline science and protection.
Endangered Wildlife Trust
Pilanesberg National Park
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) brings another vital layer to rhino protection: specialised K9 anti-poaching units. In partnership with Pilanesberg National Park, EWT-assisted interventions have dramatically decreased both rhino poaching and attempted incursions into the reserve.
Dogs like Remi, trained to track people, detect snares, locate arms and ammunition, and even assist with crime scene evidence, patrol the park alongside their handlers. Their presence is a powerful deterrent to poachers and an invaluable tool in the fight against wildlife crime. By supporting Relate Bracelets, you help keep these teams operational, disrupting the illegal wildlife trade and protecting rhinos where they live.
The Black Mambas
Greater Kruger National Park
The Black Mambas, the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit, represent a bold and inspiring new model of conservation. Operating in the Greater Kruger National Park, these women walk up to 20 km every day to patrol fences, remove snares, and monitor incursions.
Armed not with weapons but with radios, courage, and an unshakeable conservation ethic, they prioritise de-escalation and safety while calling in armed backup when needed. Their presence alone has led to measurable reductions in poaching. Just as importantly, their vision is rooted in community engagement, educating young people, empowering women, and showing that protecting wildlife is a shared responsibility.
The Black Mambas are redefining what conservation looks like, proving that resilience, discipline, and unity can be just as powerful as force.
The Bracelets That Connects Us
The fight to save rhinos is complex, spanning science, security, and community empowerment. Yet our message is simple: when we come together, we can protect not only rhinos, but also entire ecosystems and the people whose lives are intertwined with them.
A Relate Bracelet is more than an accessory. It is a symbol of hope and action, crafted by gogos, supported by lodges and retail partners, and funding organisations that are reshaping the future of conservation.
On this World Rhino Day, we celebrate the extraordinary partnerships that make this possible, and we invite you to wear your support proudly. Together, we are writing a story of resilience, for rhinos, for communities, and for generations yet to come.