Research
Save-Ceros is a Ranger Station in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, that brings together a community of rangers dedicated to watching over the translocated rhinos. The goal of this station is to improve the lives and work of rangers, with an expectation that the station can also educate and inspire others to help end the poaching crisis.
Africa- Botswana- Okavango Delta- Site
My site is located on an island in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. It experiences the wet flood season and dry season. To access site one would have to fly into the revitalized airstrip to the North and drive about 2 miles South.
Rhino Poaching Crisis
In the past 40 years the world has lost 95% of its rhinos due to poaching. People come into rhino populated areas in order to find rhino horn to sell on the black market. Unfortunately rhinos rarely survive the violent removal of their horn since it is cut off at the skull, leaving them wounded and in pain. The horns sold are sold to countries that use them for status or medicinal purposes; despite there being zero proof that rhino horn can cure anything. Their horns are made up of keratin which is found in our hair and finger nails.
Translocation Process
To protect the rhinos that are left some are being moved to areas of low poaching, such as Botswana. A translocation team picks which rhinos are viable for moving and finds a new home for them. The team then has to move the rhino via cranes, trucks and a military size plane. The rhino is placed in a vet Boma which is a fenced off area where the rhino can adapt to its new home before being released into the wild.
Vernacular Architecture
The typical vernacular is mud wall with thatch roof that is held up on wooden posts. There is a more modern take on the vernacular that has mud bricks or CMU walls with a metal roof. This design shows wealth but traps the heat inside making the home uncomfortable during the day.
While looking into vernacular building styles, the traditional arts and crafts became inspirational. The people in Botswana are well known for the weaving used to create colorful bowls and baskets.
Water and Energy
Islands are formed in the delta due to an evaporative process that leaves salt to form land mounds. These are visible from above due to the ring of jungle like plantings around a white patch. The remaining water sinks due to density and is diluted. This water is typically safe to drink and can be accessed with a Borehole. This is how a remote site can obtain fresh water while in the Delta.
Energy on site would be collected through solar panels.
Station Users
The station would hold a max of 46 people; which includes a manager, kitchen staff, cleaning staff, 3 types of rangers, a translocation team, and visitors.
Rhino Monitoring Rangers are the rangers that track and observe the rhinos while they adapt to their new environment. They make sure they are socializing, eating and not wondering out of the protected reserve. They work in pairs of two and are stationed for 3 months at a time.
Tracking Rhino Rangers are the rangers that check on rhinos and implant/ update tracking devices. In this team there are four people; an operations manager, sustainability coordinator, helicopter pilot, and vet. They also are stationed for 3 months at a time.
