In 2024, South Africa lost 420 rhinos to poaching — more than one every single day. While that’s a 15% drop from the year before, the crisis is far from over. With only about 6,400 Black Rhinos remaining in the wild, every life counts.
At QorusDocs, we believe that winning in business should also mean making a positive difference in the world. That’s why we’ve partnered with Project Rhino, an alliance of more than 30 conservation organizations in South Africa working to protect critically endangered Rhinos and their habitats.
To bring this story to life, we sat down with Lee Child, our Co-Founder and Chief Social Impact Officer, who recently returned from a field visit with conservationist Grant Fowlds, Director of Project Rhino and author, and the Project Rhino team in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Project Rhino is proud to announce the partnership with Qorusdocs- a Seattle based Company with a mission to prove “AI for Good” as we move into a technical advanced age where Artificial Intelligence could play a leading role in reducing Wildlife Crime.”
Grant FowldsDirector, Project Rhino
From (almost) flying with ZAP-Wing pilots to seeing firsthand the challenges of anti-poaching efforts, Lee shares his experiences, the role technology can play in conservation, and why this partnership matters deeply to QorusDocs.
What inspired QorusDocs to partner with Project Rhino in the first place?
The original inspiration was accidental. I picked up one of Grant’s books in a local bookstore (Saving The Last Rhinos) and loved it, so I got myself a copy of his second book (Rewilding Africa). Here was a regular guy, going out there and doing the things many of us — myself included — just think about. I then got to spend a few days in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, (KZN) with Grant and met with a bunch of people doing amazing work to look after our wild spaces. That was enough for me to be sold and then it was just a case of selling the idea internally. This was also pretty easy as our CEO, Ray Meiring, is as passionate about the African bush as I am!
What are your thoughts on what support QorusDocs can lend to their anti-poaching efforts?
Project Rhino has many initiatives and it’s playing a significant role in the protection of rhinos in KZN. The obvious support we can offer is financial. Having said that, we also wanted this support to be focused into an area that could drive some long-term value. We also have a good understanding of technology and the use of AI, so we wanted to make sure we were bringing more than just dollars to the table. We have identified a project (Project iNgqe) to trial some optical technology that can integrate to an application called EarthRanger, that could significantly improve the efficiencies of the ZAP-Wing team. ZAP-Wing (Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing) is an aviation unit that serves as a crucial component of Project Rhino's anti-poaching efforts.
Rhinos represent resilience and legacy; why do these qualities resonate with QorusDocs as a company?
Good question! Taking a startup out of South Africa and developing it into a successful company in the USA takes confidence and determination as well as a whole load of stubborn, thick-skinned resilience. The rhino has all of these qualities and so do we. The rhino is also always prepared to face challenges head-on, and I think at QorusDocs we have always done that. Finally, watching a mother rhino look after for her young calf gives you an insight into how we approach care for our customers.
How does this partnership connect back to QorusDocs’ South African roots?
The plight of the rhino is near and dear to the hearts of most South Africans. It is an iconic species whose plight really brings into focus the devastation we are wreaking on our wild spaces. The frontline of the war on the Black Rhino is in South Africa and every South African, is acutely aware of the challenges being faced by the people who are trying to protect them. The plight of the rhino is more than just protection of one species; it is about the need to grow and protect South Africa’s wild spaces.
You recently spent time in KwaZulu-Natal with Project Rhino. What struck you most about the challenges conservationists are facing?
In one word: complexity!! There are so many role players, so many impacted communities, and so many different ideas about the best way forward. Fortunately, the reserves and many independent organisations like Project Rhino are working together to put the preservation of these species and wild spaces on top of the priority list.
The urgency is clear: in 2024 alone, poachers killed 232 rhinos in KwaZulu-Natal, making it the hardest-hit region in South Africa. Against this backdrop, the work of ZAP-Wing pilots — who cover thousands of square kilometers with minimal tools — becomes all the more critical.
The ZAP-Wing pilots cover enormous territory with limited tools. How will technology like EarthRanger help transform their patrols?
As we know from our own business experience, data is vital in managing our outcomes. Applications like Earth Ranger allow users to consistently track and store information about all of the moving parts that make up the management of a reserve. This includes collared animals, vehicles and the movements of Anti-Poaching Units (APUs). EarthRanger will give the ZAP-Wing pilots a mechanism to track their own patrols and events and then seamlessly share that data with the relevant reserve.
What excites you most about the potential for AI and geotagged data in the fight against poaching?
There is no substitute for well-trained and well-equipped “boots on the ground” and this is what the rangers and pilots provide. Where I believe we can really add value is capturing the data that these patrols are gathering and using AI to uncover deeper insights into the behaviors and trends driving poaching. This information then has the potential to improve the day to day lives of the people on the front line.
Why is it important for tech companies to engage in real-world problem-solving beyond business use cases?
It is easy to become obsessed with growth and financial success and lose sight of the fact that we are all deeply connected to a planet that is not in great shape. Tech companies have vast financial and intellectual resources that can have a significant impact in the non-tech world. It does sound idealistic or romantic, but if we want to preserve our markets, then we have to recognise that we need a healthy planet for those markets to exist within.
What’s the vision for expanding this “trial” model of aerial surveillance if it succeeds?
We are starting with one Zap-Wing aircraft. This aircraft was kindly donated to Project Rhino by the Brady Hunter Foundation in the USA. If we can prove that this surveillance model works, we would look to expand to other Project Rhino aircraft in Zululand and in the KZN Midlands. Beyond that it would be great to have a proven approach that could be adopted by other pilots in other regions.
What was it like spending time with and flying with Grant Fowlds and the ZAP-Wing team? Any personal stories that stood out?
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to fly during this trip. The weather was bad, but it gave me an opportunity to spend time with the pilots discussing their requirements and talking through how we could make their day-to-day activities more efficient. I am hoping that once we get the project underway, someone will offer me a flip. 😉
It was an adventure spending time with Grant, but the thing that really stood out for me was the quality and commitment of the many people that I met. Unsung heroes that spend their days on the front line of the fight to protect our wildlife. Amazing!
You created a great Instagram video of the trip, why do you think storytelling and visibility are as important as funding?
Well, I’m not sure that storytelling is “as” important as funding 😉 but it does go a long way. It’s hard to care about something that you are unaware of and not everyone can be exposed to these activities. Well-crafted stories have the ability to connect people to events and places and this is important if you want to develop a strong personal connection to a cause.
On a personal level, what does rhino conservation mean to you?
I think that rhino conservation has become a rallying point for broader conservation activities. We have seen the functional extinction of the Northern White Rhino, the Southern White Rhino is enduring a horrific assault for its horn and the Black Rhino is Critically Endangered with approximately 6400 individuals remaining. The hard work being done to save and protect our rhinos is, in my view, almost symbolic of our need to make the effort to save all our wild species. What excited me the most about what I saw on my trip, is that as we put in the time and effort to save Rhino, every other species in those wild places is also getting looked after.
What milestones are you most excited about in the next year of this partnership?
That’s easy! Creating measurable value for the Project Rhino team through this initial project. There is no point in us getting involved if we are not adding significant value to the Project Rhino Directors, Carlien Roodt, Grant Fowlds and Chris Small. I want to see “Project iNgqe” succeed and then be open to other initiatives that we might be able to support or enable.
How do you see QorusDocs employees, customers, and partners getting involved?
I know our employees are super excited and supportive of this initiative. They all have amazing skillsets that I might be able to tap into, to address any technical challenges that might crop up. It would also be amazing to get some of them to experience the work on the ground and allow them to feel like they are directly involved.
In terms of customers and partners, hopefully we can create some awareness and tell some stories that inspire them to get involved. As I have hinted at in this chat, the US Dollar goes a long way in Africa and any donations can have a huge impact for the heroes on the frontlines of conservation.
What’s your long-term hope for QorusDocs’ role in social impact — beyond Project Rhino?
WOW! This might be the time to be the idealistic romantic. I hope we can make a difference for Project Rhino first and foremost and deliver a meaningful impact on their efforts. After that, I would really like to see us get involved with some form of range expansion type projects. Working with partners to get land protected for our future generations, whilst at the same time securing sustainable benefits for the communities living on or around those lands. A big hope and dream, but nothing worthwhile starts with a pragmatic, realistic expectation!
Protecting rhinos is about more than saving a species — it’s about preserving ecosystems, empowering communities, and safeguarding a legacy for future generations. At QorusDocs, we’re proud to stand alongside Project Rhino and explore how technology can strengthen their vital work.
Want to be part of the impact? Every QorusDocs demo helps fund rhino conservation through our Demo-to-Donation program. Be a part of #QorusDocsForGood and join us in protecting what truly matters.