A Cry for Help to Save our Rhinos!

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We are fighting a war in South Africa and I am going to enlist!

I plan tailormade safaris for my guests and their children to see the Big 5, but soon it will be the Big 4!  Our Rhinos are being poached on an unprecedented scale and are set to become extinct should we not be able to stop it.

In 2010 we lost 333 Rhino to poaching.

In 2011 we lost 448 Rhino to poaching.

In April 2012 we have already lost 181.  This is a new record and means we will more than likely have more than 600 Rhinos poached this year – almost two of these magnificent creatures die daily.

When you come to Africa, this is what you expect to see:

Happy Rhino taking a mud bath!

When I open my morning newspaper, this is what I see every single day:

Courtesy of L Munro

Think about how rare it is to see them in the wild, and then think about two of them dying every day for no reason other than mans greed!  They have been known to have been darted from a helicopter and then have their horn hacked out while still alive.  They are left to die a slow and agonising death and often live for a long while before bleeding to death.  Why?  Because a dart draws less attention than a rifle shot!  Imagine having half your face cut off and then being left to suffer and slowly bleed to death!  I know it is shocking, but this is the reality of my world.

Rhino horn is now more valuable in the markets of Asia than gold.  It is sold for medicinal purposes and as an aphrodisiac, yet it has no more value than nail clippings.  However, due to the fact that it is now in such high demand with a street value of USD65000 per kilogram (that is not a typo – sixty five thousand dollars!), organised crime has become involved in poaching.

The poaching gangs use sophisticated automatic weapons, night vision equipment, helicopters and have even been known to use vets and corrupt officials to get the upper hand.  They don’t only kill our helpless animals, but will also not hesitate to shoot members of the Anti-Poaching Units (APU’s) who often have to meet these highly organised criminals with nothing more than an antiquated rifle.

So, why am I posting this blog?  It is because I need your assistance to help these innocent and magnificent creatures.   I am putting my body on the line and will be joining in the Skydive for Rhinos Campaign being organised by the African Conservation Trust to raise awareness and funds for this worthy cause.

The Plan: 448 (one for every Rhino that died last year) ordinary people and celebrities skydive at five centres throughout South Africa.

100% of funds raised will go to four major anti-poaching activities which urgently need improvement.  Key priority regions are Kwa Zulu Natal and the Kruger National Park but funds will also be distributed to other regions, based on urgency of need:

1. Equipment for APU members – from basic (eg: sleeping bags), to advanced (eg: APU tactical vests) to high-tech (eg: GPS tracking units);

2. Skills training for APU teams – from basic to advanced. This includes training for existing APU and also basic training for new APU rangers to be deployed in hard-hit areas.

3. Aerial surveillance – this is a proven proactive method of deterring poaching.  Funding will be channelled to existing aerial patrols that are benefitting rhino owners in specific areas.

4. Buffer community interventions – unemployment, poverty and food insecurity often drive desperate people to join poaching syndicates: we have to stop this by implementing projects in the communities bordering game reserves that will alleviate these needs.

Please note: ACT is not taking any administration or other fees off the funds raised as they want every Rand given by both the public and corporate supporters to go where it is needed most right now: on the front-line of anti-poaching efforts.

I hope that if this killing of these magnificent creatures upsets you as much as it has upset me, that you will agree to sponsor me to jump out of an aeroplane in July so that we may still have Rhinos in South Africa for our children to see.  This initiative is 100% supported by &Beyond.  There are a number of ways to make a donation and sponsor me (any donation will be hugely appreciated), so if you are interested, please pop me an email on Karen.richards@andbeyond&Beyond.com and I will let you know how you can help.

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Thank you so much!