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Khusela Endangered Wildlife Sanctuary

WHY KHUSELA ENDANGERED WILDLIFE SANCTUARY?

“It began with one blind rhino—and became a sanctuary of hope for an entire species.”

Spanning 2,300 acres (930 hectares) of protected wilderness, the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation’s Khusela Endangered Wildlife Sanctuary was established to safeguard Africa’s most vulnerable species.

What began as an urgent response to the black rhino poaching crisis has grown into a purpose-built refuge—offering safety, rehabilitation, and the opportunity to thrive— whether in secure care or back in the wild.

Khusela is more than a sanctuary. It’s a conservation hub—combining advanced security and strategic collaborations to protect species on the brink and create lasting change.

The blind rhino
Who changed everything

In 2019, deep within Addo Elephant National Park, rangers spotted a dominant black rhino bull behaving erratically. Malnourished, stressed, and disoriented, Munu was darted for assessment. The diagnosis was devastating—irreversible blindness, likely from injuries sustained in territorial clashes.

Known and loved by the reserve staff, Munu faced certain death in the wild. A temporary boma offered immediate safety, but it soon became clear he needed more—a secure, expansive space where he could move, graze, and live as naturally as possible—safe enough for him to truly thrive.

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Recognizing this urgent need—and the importance of safeguarding Munu’s pristine genetics, vital to the survival of the critically endangered black rhino—we joined the efforts, working with SANParks and wildlife experts to chart a bold path: the creation of Khusela Endangered Wildlife Sanctuary, a purpose-built haven for Munu and others like him.

What began as an animal-welfare emergency became a conservation mission with far-reaching impact. Today, Munu is more than a survivor—he is a symbol of resilience, hope, and the power of one life to change many. His legacy lives in our guiding belief:
“Save One, Save All.”

See part of the journey that started it all [here].

From vision to reality

Phases 1 and 2 transformed a vision into a secure, world-class refuge:

  • Secured 2,300 acres (930 hectares) of wilderness through long-term management and conservation stewardship
  • Installed a solar farm and water treatment plant for off-grid operations
  • Built accommodation and operational facilities for rangers and the anti-poaching unit
  • Expanded road networks and implemented state-of-the-art access control
  • Strengthened perimeter fencing and constructed two purpose-built bomas
  • Created four large secure camps for Munu—including a major expansion to increase natural browse alongside his feed
  • Installed an advanced camera network with license plate recognition (LPR) and thermal imaging for 24/7 protection
  • Added two guest tents with proper beds for select conservation partners and supporters

With these milestones in place, Phase 3 expands capacity, deepens protection, and creates new opportunities to safeguard vulnerable wildlife in collaboration with surrounding communities who are vital to the future of conservation.

 

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Phase 3

Shaped by the guidance of conservation partners, local communities, and wildlife experts, Phase 3 focuses on the core capabilities most needed now, with the aim of strengthening conservation outcomes in our region well into the future.

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RESCUE
A dedicated orphanage for rapid response and first-responder care—ready to stabilize rhino calves who have lost their mothers
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RESCUE
A dedicated orphanage for rapid response and first-responder care—ready to stabilize rhino calves who have lost their mothers, whether to poaching, illness, accidents, or other natural causes.
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REHABILITATE
A state-of-the-art veterinary and rehabilitation center that takes wildlife from stabilization to release-readiness.
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REHABILITATE
A state-of-the-art veterinary and rehabilitation center that takes wildlife from stabilization to release-readiness. Care emphasizes limited human interaction, reduced imprinting, and species-specific conditioning so animals leave healthy and ready to thrive.
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RELOCATE
A secure staging and quarantine facility to support the safe translocation of rhinos and other species to new protected habitats.
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RELOCATE
A secure staging and quarantine facility to support the safe translocation of rhinos and other species to new protected habitats. Pre-movement quarantine and veterinary screening are required to ensure animals are disease-free and transport-ready—critical to rewilding priority landscapes, preserving genetic diversity through managed gene flow, and strengthening resilient wild populations.
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RESEARCH
Now under the Khusela umbrella, SEF’s One Woman’s Legacy scholarship supports
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RESEARCH
Now under the Khusela umbrella, SEF’s One Woman’s Legacy scholarship supports applied research across a range of degree programs, including black rhino ecology and genetics, environmental science, veterinary medicine, wildlife forensics, and conservation policy and law, among others.
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REWILD
Rewilding at Khusela is about giving rescued and rehabilitated animals the opportunity to return
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REWILD
Rewilding at Khusela is about giving rescued and rehabilitated animals the opportunity to return to a fully wild existence. For species like rhinos, this means carefully supporting their journey back into natural ecosystems where they can live independently, contribute to healthy populations, and restore balance to the landscapes they shape.
Our approach focuses on providing secure habitats, expert veterinary oversight, and long-term monitoring to ensure animals can thrive once released. By safeguarding both the well-being of each animal and the integrity of the ecosystems they rejoin, rewilding becomes a pathway to rebuilding resilient populations and protecting biodiversity for generations to come.
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RANGE EXPANSION
For rhinos and other wide-ranging species to survive long into the future
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RANGE EXPANSION
For rhinos and other wide-ranging species to survive long into the future, they need more than small, fenced areas—they need room to roam. Expanding and connecting protected habitats is essential to reduce isolation, support genetic diversity, and ensure healthy, resilient populations.
At Khusela, we believe in working with neighbors, conservation partners, and public agencies to safeguard critical land and link fragmented habitats. Every hectare protected contributes to the bigger picture, creating living landscapes where wildlife can move freely, ecosystems can flourish, and communities can share in the benefits of conservation.

WAYS YOU
CAN HELP

If you are a donor, landowner, researcher, brand or community leader and you care about rhinos, ranger protection, rescue and rehabilitation, safe translocation, science-driven research or connected wild places and land stewardship, we’d love to work with you!

Contact us below and sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date.

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