Staff Reporter
TRIBUTES have been streaming in for renowned game farmer and conservationist Jaco Muller (53), with the Rhino Momma Project describing its founder as a driving force behind its efforts to protect and breed rhinos and ensure their future.
Muller’s death was confirmed after he died in a gyrocopter crash on 19 September 2026 while monitoring a wildfire on a farm near Outjo.
In a message of condolence, Kifaru Luxury Lodge & Bush Camp described Muller as “the heart and driving force” behind the Rhino Momma Project, saying his dedication to rhino conservation had become a lifelong mission.
“What began with his dedication to help rhinos became a lifelong mission to protect them, breed them and, above all, give them a future,” the lodge said.
The message described Muller as a protector and visionary who refused to stand by while rhinos were under threat, adding that his conservation work had touched countless lives.
“The Rhino Momma Project is part of Jaco’s legacy. Every rhino protected, every calf born, and every future life saved will carry a piece of him forward,” the message said.
The lodge extended its condolences to Muller’s wife, Cher, his daughter Paige, his son Tristan and all those who knew and loved him.
“We have lost a remarkable man and a true conservation hero,” the message said.
According to the Namibian Police’s weekend crime report, Muller, was flying his gyrocopter at Farm Gorab in the Outjo District at about 15:20 on 19 September when the aircraft allegedly struck a tree before crashing to the ground and catching fire.
Police said Muller and people at the farm had been attempting to extinguish a wildfire, with Muller monitoring the fire from the air when the crash occurred.
Muller was widely known as the founder of the Rhino Momma Project, a private white rhino breeding and conservation initiative established around 2010. According to information published by the project, 197 rhinos had been born through the programme by September 2026, with the first calf born in 2013.
The programme has also facilitated the relocation of rhinos within Namibia and international exports for breeding purposes under permits issued in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Muller was also involved in anti-poaching efforts, wildlife auctions and discussions around sustainable conservation financing.
Photo: Contributed
