Saving The Survivors (STS) was founded by Dr. Johan Marais in 2012 to provide life-saving veterinary care to rhinos injured through poaching, snaring, conflict with other animals, or accidental trauma. Since then, the organisation has grown into one of the world's leading wildlife veterinary conservation charities, delivering both emergency interventions and proactive conservation programmes across Africa and beyond.

Although best known for treating rhinos, STS provides specialist veterinary care to a wide range of endangered wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, African wild dogs, cheetahs, pangolins, giraffes, antelope and many other species. Our experienced veterinary teams respond to wildlife emergencies while also supporting breeding programmes, disease management, wildlife translocations and population monitoring.

A core focus of our work is reducing human-wildlife conflict. As expanding human populations increasingly overlap with wildlife habitats, dangerous encounters become more common, threatening both people and animals. STS works with local communities to develop practical, non-lethal solutions that protect lives while ensuring wildlife can continue to thrive.

Elephants are fitted with GPS tracking collars, allowing their movements to be monitored in real time. This enables early warning systems to alert nearby communities before elephants reach villages or farmland, reducing crop damage, property destruction and the risk of injury or loss of life. Communities are also provided with elephant deterrent toolkits containing flashing lights, chilli and garlic repellents, and other humane deterrents. Farmers receive advice on crops that are less attractive to elephants, helping reduce conflict even further.

STS also collars and monitors lions, particularly dispersing males that often travel long distances in search of territories and mates. By tracking these animals and relocating them where necessary, we help prevent livestock losses and dangerous encounters with people.

Healthy ecosystems depend on balanced wildlife populations. STS monitors elephant population densities and, where appropriate, implements humane immunocontraception programmes to maintain sustainable numbers. This protects habitats, preserves biodiversity and helps avoid future culling.

We believe long-term conservation depends on the support of local people. Through environmental education, school visits and community engagement programmes, STS inspires the next generation to value and protect wildlife while creating sustainable solutions that benefit both people and nature.