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Our Social Responsibility

For the love of Rhinos

Ancient, iconic and rare, rhinos have been roaming the earth for 50 million years.

These charismatic animals are an invaluable part of the Big 5 – an irreplaceable part of our African natural heritage that drives eco-tourism, contributing significantly to job creation and economic growth.

South Africa is home to 74% of Africa’s remaining rhino population. They are one of our country’s most valuable resources, attracting tourists who want to experience the Big 5.

A precious natural heritage and a valuable national resource, rhinos belong to all of us, and all of us – collectively – are the custodians of our rhino.

Sadly, our rhinos are being massacred to the point of extinction. In the face of such a crisis, each one of us now faces a personal choice: turning a blind eye, or becoming part of the solution.

As part of our commitment to protect and preserve our rhino, we have crafted a coffee, roasted for this cause – that our children and their children will be able to enjoy the magnificent sight of a rhino roaming wild.

Aptly named ‘Chipembere’, which means ‘rhinoceros’ in Shona, our Chipembere coffee is just one of the ways in which you can join us in contributing to our cause.

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Gone, but never forgotten

(2008-2023)

Shockingly, over the last 15 years, more than 10,300 known African rhinos have been lost to poaching in South Africa (2008-2023). Rhinos are being massacred to the point of extinction. More than 1000 rhinos were poached each year between 2013 and 2017.

The Eastern Cape is home to established breeding populations of the endangered black rhino as well as white rhino, and we have already lost 110 of our precious rhino to poaching criminals. The increase in poaching incidents in 2018 called for additional collaboration between the government and private sector.

The few remaining rhinos are under constant threat as poachers backed by professional crime syndicates slaughter a thousand rhino a year. This drastically reduces the breeding population of rhino year after year, a tragedy for these ancient animals that breed very slowly, with long gestation periods of 450 days.

There are only some 15,023 white and 2,056 black rhino left in South Africa. According to the IUCN Red List, the black rhino is classified as critically endangered, while the white rhino is classified as near-threatened.

Source: www.stoprhinopoaching.com

Rhinos Lost - National Statistics

2008	-	83
2009	-	122
2010	-	333
2011	-	448
2012	-	668
2013	-	1004
2014	-	1215
2015	-	1175
2016	-	1054
2017	-	1028
2018	-	769
2019	-	594
2020	-	394
2021	-	451
2022	-	448
2023	-	499

Source: www.stoprhinopoaching.com

Rhinos Lost - Eastern Cape Statistics

2008	-	1
2009	-	3
2010	-	4
2011	-	11
2012	-	7
2013	-	5
2014	-	15
2015	-	14
2016	-	19
2017	-	12
2018	-	19
2019	-	2
2020	-	0
2021	-	0
2022	-	0
2023	-	17

Source: South African Department of Environmental Affairs (Rhino Poaching in South Africa 2022)

Turning the tide

Saving rhino, one at a time

Since 2016, there has been a steady decline nationally in the total number of rhinos poached.
The recorded number of rhino poached in 2018 is 769. It is the first time in five years that the number of rhinos poached in one year was less than 1000.

It is also encouraging that since January 2018, approximately 400 suspects have been arrested on a national scale on a range of charges including rhino poaching. There are currently 530 rhino poaching related cases on the court role involving 750 accused, with 1738 charges. Close to 300 of these are ready for trial. From January to August 2018, a total of 70 cases – involving 163 accused – were finalised. The trials have resulted in 93% guilty verdicts, translating to 288 years in sentencing.

Source: The South African Department of Environmental Affairs

Due to a strong intelligence security network operating in the Eastern Cape, 2018 saw the first successful prosecution for rhino poaching in the Grahamstown High Court. Charged with more than 55 counts of rhino poaching, the notorious Ndlovu rhino poaching gang received a record sentence of 25 years in jail each with no leave to appeal. Arrests in the Eastern Cape have also increased, where local SAPS authorities work alongside anti-poaching units to prevent poaching incidents.

The overall decline of rhino poaching incidents may be attributed to the countrywide implementation of the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros approach, adopted by Cabinet in 2014. The collaboration and commitment of people, private reserves and anti-poaching work taking place throughout South Africa has also played a major part in the protection of our last remaining rhino.

The most successful interventions in protecting rhino include: Anti-Poaching Units (APU) supported by specially-trained K9 units; monitoring and tracking; translocating rhinos to private reserves; and – perhaps most importantly – raising awareness and funding.

Source: Chipembere Rhino Foundation

Our K9

Sammy, on the Frontline.

K9 units, used for tracking and apprehending poachers have been a game changer in combating poaching. Meet our Sammy, a 7-year-old German Shepherd. She is well-trained in tracking and apprehension, bite-work and obedience. Sammy has been on the frontline of rhino conservation for six years already, thanks to continued funding provided by coffee-lovers enjoying our Chipembere Rhino Coffee Blend.

The funds raised through the sales of the 'Roasted for a Cause’ Chipembere Rhino Coffee Blend covers the ongoing costs for Sammy’s care – including her training, food, veterinary bills and her handlers’ training and ongoing refresher courses.

Sammy was the Eastern Cape province’s first anti-poaching tracking and apprehension dog, deployed on a local reserve through Chipembere Rhino Foundation. Trained to be transported by helicopter for quick deployment, Sammy assists in any potential security breaches that require a K9 team to track and apprehend suspects. She also assists, if needed, at poaching crime scenes. Since Sammy’s deployment in 2015, none of the reported poaching incidents in the Eastern Cape have occurred in the areas under her watch. Sammy’s extensive and ongoing K9 refresher training courses help identify her current skill levels and help to continually fine tune her obedience, tracking and apprehension work. Chipembere Rhino Foundation also applies donor funding towards the services of Bronyx K9 assessors every 3 months to assess and refresh all K9 handlers to ensure that they continue to improve and broaden their skill set.

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The capacity-building and upskilling of personnel in the security and anti-poaching teams is vital. Chipembere Rhino Foundation applies their funding to provide accredited advanced training for anti-poaching personnel from multiple reserves through proven institutions. The foundation also helps to supply reliable and proven equipment that works in a harsh and unforgiving environment. These courses, conducted by reputable instructors from the South African Wildlife College, have covered advanced weapon handling, night operations, counter insurgency man tracking, K9 refresher courses, team building exercises between multiple reserves, K9 assessments and reserve security assessments.

The combination of these courses ensures that anti-poaching personnel, security managers and reserve owners stay engaged and motivated with positive results. It ensures they are all constantly sharing knowledge and applying best practice approaches to safeguarding Rhino populations. Coffee-lovers enjoying Chipembere Rhino Coffee Blend have also funded the building of a new watch tower, giving anti-poaching units a new, higher vantage point to watch over rhino and other wildlife, as well as a base safe from dangerous wildlife at night.

Join Us!

Every one of us should take some responsibility to protect these iconic creatures from the appalling inhumanity of poaching – and possible extinction. The donations and support from ordinary, caring South Africans make a massive difference on the ground. Here’s how you can contribute:

Indulge in Chipembere coffee

One of the easiest ways to support our rhino conservation efforts is to simply indulge in Chipembere Rhino Coffee Blend, a special All-African coffee blend, roasted for a cause. It is a handcrafted, African coffee experience that comes with a unique opportunity to contribute to the protection of our rhino. For every bag of Chipembere Rhino Coffee Blend purchased by retailers and coffee-loving rhino supporters, a portion of sales is donated to the Chipembere Rhino Foundation, contributing significantly to their rhino conservation efforts. This donation comes out of the listed selling price and is made by us on behalf of the retailer or consumer.

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Chipembere T-Shirt

Take Action

C	-	Create a partnership with Chipembere Rhino Foundation
H	-	Highlight the success of action and collaboration
I	-	Introduce Chipembere Rhino Foundation to potential donors
P	-	Provide supplies for the anti-poaching rangers
E	-	Educate others on the plight of the rhino
M	-	Motivate others to action
B	-	Bring attention to the rhino’s plight via social media
E	-	Educate others on the myths about rhino horn
R	-	Reach out and get involved
E	-	Explore the latest projects at www.chipembere.org

Chipembere Arabica Coffee Save The Rhino Mastertons In Sa

Find Out More

For more information about the Chipembere Rhino Foundation, please visit
www.chipembere.org or visit their Facebook page

Report Suspicious Wildlife Activities

You can play an active role by providing information and reporting any suspicious activities around wildlife to the Environmental Crime Hotline on 0800 205 005 or the SAPS on 10111.

Thank you for your support!

Together we are ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy the magnificent sight of a rhino roaming wild.

Animal Welfare Society

Mastertons Coffee and Tea Specialists donates 100% of profits from the sales of hessian bags to Animal Welfare Society. Our hessian bags, which arrive at our roastery carrying raw coffee beans are sold to the public. We accumulate sales over a specific time so that a significant donation can be given at a time. The Animal Welfare Society Port Elizabeth, AWS PE, is an open shelter and the only animal shelter in Port Elizabeth which offers a safe place for all kinds of unwanted, lost or abandoned animals. At their premises in Victoria Drive, Walmer, they have the following facilities:, they run catteries and kennels for stray and surrendered pets and have availability for livestock such as donkeys, horses, cattle, goats, etc.

They accept all animals brought in, and run a 24-hour service to deal with the many cases of cruelty and neglect which are reported. They also provide a much-needed facility in terms of an animal crematorium which is a direct benefit to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in terms of reducing landfill costs. Currently our entire staff complement is just over 30 staff members, which includes full-time inspectors and a veterinarian and we are privileged to enjoy the help of many volunteers.

Website: www.animalwelfarepe.co.za

Mastertons Coffee And Tea Sponsor Animal Welfare Society

Mastertons Coffee And Tea Sponsor Lake Farm

Lake Farm Centre

Mastertons Coffee and Tea Specialists helps the Centre with their coffee and tea requirements for their Coffee and Craft Shop. All proceeds made from sales in the shop go towards the centre.

Lake Farm is home to 90 intellectually disabled adults who live in 7 hostels. Most of the residents work in 10 different work groups or workshops and contribute to the upkeep and running of the centre. The village started in 1959, opened in 1960 and celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2010.

Set in the rural Kragga Kamma area, 15 km from Port Elizabeth, Lake Farm Centre offers a tranquil and picturesque environment that provides a permanent home for 90 mentally challenged adults. Living and working together in harmonious co-operation, where the more able help the weak, every resident is a valued member of the group, enriching our community with their capacity for tolerance, support and love. Our Residents range in age from the early twenties to over sixty, and several who are now in their fifties have been part of this extended family since their early childhood. While some still have families, who are able to contribute financially to their support, a growing number are orphaned and so become entirely dependent on the Centre and on Government subsidies.

Lake Farm Centre is a registered non-profit organisation and public benefit organisation.
Website: www.lakefarm.org.za