What Saving The Survivors does

Saving The Survivors is a South African non-profit company (NPC) founded in 2012 by Dr. Johan Marais that provides emergency veterinary treatment and rehabilitation for endangered wild animals, principally rhinos, injured by poaching or other traumatic incidents. The organization operates as a service entity rather than a product company; its core offering is veterinary intervention (immobilisation, wound treatment, orthopaedic procedures, follow-up radiographs) delivered in the field across South African game reserves, supplemented by anti-poaching support (K9 units, ranger equipment), GPS-assisted monitoring of treated animals, translocation for genetic conservation, and community/education programs. A secondary, co-branded effort with Fahlo (The Charge Bracelet) allows donors to track individual rhinos, and a UK-registered affiliate (Saving the Survivors UK) supports GBP donations and Gift Aid.

The business model is 100% donation-funded with no government grants. Revenue streams include individual one-time and recurring (monthly) donations accepted in GBP, USD, ZAR, and via IBAN, Bitcoin and Ethereum; branded merchandise sales (plush toys, apparel, accessories, wildlife art prints priced £1–£299) through an owned e-commerce store; and affiliate-style co-marketing with Fahlo plus minor apparel/lifestyle partners such as Kleed Loungewear, Bush Quip, Craghoppers, and Snow Mountain. Customer segments are individual conservation supporters and eco-conscious consumers, reached via organic social (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), email, a content blog (Bush Journal), and partner distribution. Operating geographies disclosed are South Africa (primary) and the UK; the organization reports approximately 5 employees and maintains a wide network of conservation, veterinary supply, and brand partnerships but has no disclosed patents, awards, funding rounds, or AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Saving The Survivors

Legal name

Saving the Survivors NPC

Website

https://savingthesurvivors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Saving The Survivors is a South African non-profit founded in 2012 by Dr. Johan Marais that provides emergency veterinary treatment and rehabilitation for endangered wildlife, primarily rhinos injured by poaching, and is funded entirely by donations and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response (BPAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife rescue services
• Veterinary conservation
• Anti-poaching support
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Rhino conservation

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters worldwide. Monthly giving program for sustained support. Gift Aid scheme for UK taxpayers.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including clothing, plush toys, mugs, bags, prints, and accessories through e-commerce store.
3. Partner Co-branded Products: Co-branded products with partners like Fahlo (Rhino Charge Bracelet) where portion of proceeds support conservation work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Saving The Survivors provides emergency veterinary response and rehabilitation services for endangered wild animals, primarily rhinos, that have been injured by poaching or traumatic incidents. The organization also operates anti-poaching K9 units, GPS tracking and translocation programs, and community education initiatives, with all operations funded through donations, merchandise sales, and partner contributions.

Product overview

Saving The Survivors is a wildlife conservation nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Dr. Johan Marais that operates as a service-focused entity rather than a traditional product company. The organization offers a portfolio of merchandise (branded apparel, plush wildlife toys, mugs, bags, pens, keyrings, and wildlife art prints) primarily to raise funds for conservation work. The core service is wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, providing emergency veterinary response for endangered animals injured by poaching or traumatic incidents, with intensive focus on rhinos. Additional services include anti-poaching support (equipment and K9 units), conservation education programs, and a co-branded rhino-tracking bracelet with Fahlo. The merchandise products function as fundraising items across various price points (£1 to £299), while the donation system accepts contributions in multiple currencies and via cryptocurrency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Service Emergency veterinary response service treating endangered wild animals injured by poaching or traumatic incidents, with primary focus on rhinos. Services include immobilisation, wound treatment, orthopaedic procedures, and ongoing monitoring using follow-up radiographs (X-rays).
• Donation and Fundraising Program Donation collection service accepting contributions via credit/debit card, PayPal, bank transfer (ZAR, GBP, USD), and cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum). The organization is 100% funded by public donations and receives no government funding. Preset amounts of £10, £25, £50, £100 or custom amount, with monthly recurring option.
• Anti-Poaching Support Services Support for anti-poaching operations including equipment provision (tents, boots, night vision goggles, first aid and medical equipment) and K9 unit support (anti-poaching dogs like Hope and handler training).
• Conservation Education Programs Educational initiatives including the Big Five learning modules, children's quizzes and colouring activities, veterinary courses on Elephant and Rhino Medicine, and the International Symposium on Wildlife Utilization (SYMCO).
• Rhino Charge Bracelet (Fahlo Partnership) Rhino-tracking bracelet in partnership with Fahlo that allows supporters to follow real-time movements of rhinos in South Africa while contributing to conservation efforts. Includes the Fahlo Protection Ping for safety-managed location data.
• STS Branded Merchandise Store Owned e-commerce store selling branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, polo shirts, golf shirts, caps, fleeces), plush wildlife toys (Elephant, Giraffe, Cheetah, Rhino, Lion, Wilddog), mugs, bags, keyrings, pens, books, and wildlife art prints, priced from £1 to £299 to raise funds for conservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully treated and rehabilitated numerous rhinos including Thandi (first rhino to survive poaching attack), Seha, Hope, Samson, and many others
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• FahlocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-launched The Charge Bracelet - a rhino-tracking bracelet allowing supporters to follow individual rhinos in South Africa while contributing to conservation. Each purchase supports Saving the Survivors' work protecting rhinos.
• Veterinary Conservation Coalition (VCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for wildlife conservation initiatives including cheetah translocation programs and white rhino conservation. Jointly introduced coalition of male cheetahs to protected property.
• Solio Game Reserve and Rhino OrphanagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with game reserve and rhino orphanage supporting orphaned rhino calves and conservation efforts.
• The Elephant Crisis FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting elephant conservation and addressing the elephant poaching crisis.
• Worldwide VetsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary partner providing support including equine veterinary education and California wildfire horse rescue efforts.
• CraghoppersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor clothing brand partnership supporting wildlife conservation through promotional and marketing collaboration.
• Rhino Rescue UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based rhino conservation organization supporting anti-poaching efforts and rhino rescue operations.
• Wild in AfricaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSafari and travel company distributing conservation messages and supporting wildlife protection.
• Infinite Safari FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting African wildlife conservation through safari experiences and funding.
• Bothongo Nature ReservemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African nature reserve partnership for rhino and lion conservation.
• The Rhino OrphanagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized rhino orphanage caring for orphaned rhino calves, partnered for rehabilitation and release programs.
• Africa GeographicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConservation media partner providing exposure through travel and wildlife content.
• Green Kids ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChildren's environmental education brand, joint publishing of Little Moyo book for kids.
• Bush QuipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership supporting conservation efforts.
• Kleed LoungewearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClothing brand partnership supporting conservation messaging.
• Serve the Wildlife NPCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African wildlife conservation nonprofit.
• WILD AT LIFEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife conservation organization.
• Baby Rhino RescuemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned baby rhinos.
• Raise the Baby RhinomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundraising initiative specifically for baby rhino rescue and care.
• Insimbi Legacy ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegacy conservation projects supporting wildlife protection.
• Snow MountainminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership for conservation support.
• EsperominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership supporting conservation initiatives.
• One Land Love ItminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization focused on land protection.
• Project V.E.T.S.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary education and training organization.
• SalvariminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership for conservation support.
• Vets with HorsepowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile veterinary service providing additional expertise for wildlife care.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Peace Parks Foundation: Southern African transboundary conservation organization supporting protected areas and wildlife corridors. Directly relevant as it works on rhino translocation and genetic conservation in the same Southern African range states where Saving The Survivors operates.
• The Rhino Orphanage: South African nonprofit caring for orphaned rhino calves. Listed as a strategic partner of Saving The Survivors in the data and operates an adjacent model of donor-supported rhino rehabilitation, making it a directly comparable and operationally-linked peer.
• Wildlife Conservation Network: Conservation nonprofit that partners with and funds field-based wildlife protection organizations. Relevant peer given Saving The Survivors' similar small-team, donor-funded model focused on individual animal outcomes.
• StopRhinoPoaching.com: Dedicated anti-rhino-poaching advocacy and fundraising nonprofit. Highly relevant as a direct rhino-focused peer operating in the same donor-supported, wildlife-protection category as Saving The Survivors.
• Game Rangers International: African wildlife nonprofit supporting ranger training, anti-poaching K9 units, and wildlife rescue in Zambia. Comparable as a field-operating conservation nonprofit with a similar mix of veterinary response, ranger/K9 support, and donor-funded operations.
• Wilderness Foundation: South Africa-based conservation nonprofit focused on wilderness protection, anti-poaching, and species conservation. Directly comparable as a South African nonprofit addressing wildlife crime and endangered species protection.

Broad incumbents

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global conservation authority producing the IUCN Red List and convening conservation science, including rhino assessments. Relevant as a peer in the conservation and endangered species protection space, though operating at much larger scale and with scientific/policy focus rather than field rescue.
• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW): Global animal welfare and wildlife conservation nonprofit addressing wildlife crime, habitat protection, and individual animal rescue. Comparable as a larger nonprofit operating across the same wildlife protection and donor-supported mission space.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation organization running large-scale anti-poaching, species protection, and habitat programs including dedicated rhino initiatives. Highly relevant as a much larger conservation peer operating in overlapping rhino and wildlife protection space.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation nonprofit focused on wildlife habitat protection and species survival across the continent, including rhinos. Comparable to Saving The Survivors as an African wildlife conservation organization raising public donations to protect endangered species.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SavingSurvivors
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SavingtheSurvivors
• Facebookfacebook.com/STSsavingthesurvivors
• Instagraminstagram.com/savingthesurvivors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saving-the-survivors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saving The Survivors