VetPaw

The surge in rhino poaching over the past decade is heartbreaking. The number of rhinos poached in South Africa (where the majority of rhinos live) has increased from 13 in 2007 to a record 1,215 in 2014. Occasionally, nature fights back, such as last week’s case of a pride of lions killing and eating a group of rhino poachers. But rhinos, as well as other animals in the African bush, otherwise have a difficult time protecting themselves from poachers.

That’s where Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (yes, VetPaw) comes in. VetPaw is a group of veterans who fought in Afghanistan or Iraq who are committed to training and working as park rangers in Africa to protect elephants and rhinos from poachers. They’re able to use their combat skills and experience to contribute positively. Today, I made a donation to VetPaw.