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Save the Rhino

Rhinos’ prehistoric and strong appearance has fascinated men for centuries andeven elephants are wearyof their physical power. Yet,only five rhino species survivetoday: thewhite rhino() and theblack rhino() in Africa; and theIndianorGreater one-hornedrhino(),theJavan rhino() and theSumatran rhino() in Asia.All five of these species are currently threatened.

Poaching statistics in Africa between 2006 and 2017 (c) Save the Rhino International

ճcollaborates with, an internationa organization working restlessly to protect all rhino species and prevent their extinction.

¿WHAT IS SAVE THE RHINO?

Everything began when to rhino lovers,Dave StirlingandJohnny Roberts, travelled toAfrica to raise funds to stop rhino poaching activities. The moment was critical:between 1970 and 1993 hunting for black rhino was out of control, so much so that, at a certain point, there wereonly 2,475 black rhinosleft in the world.

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Three white rhinos. (c) Save the Rhino International

After their trip and due to what they had seen and learnt about conservation, those two friends created Save the Rhino with the objective of seeing all 5 rhino species that still exist(black, white, Indian, Javan and Sumatran)would thrive in the wildfor future generations. To achieve this goal, they set out towork hand in hand with their partners to support all threatened rhinos in Africa and Asia.

RHINOS WHO RUN MARATHONS

After creating Save the Rhino, Stirling and Roberts found some unconditional allies.Gerald Scarfe, a theatrical costume designer, had created a rhino costume for a musical adaptation of the playRhinoceros, by Eugène Ionesco. One of the actors in the musical , William Todd-Jones – who has also worked in films likeThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixoThe Neverending Story– had heard about Save the Rhino and wanted to donate the rhino costumes.

Stirling and Roberts not only accepted the donation, but they also challenged Todd-Jones toparticipate in the London Marathon with them wearing the costumesto raise funds for Save the Rhino’s cause. Since them, the race has become a tradition among Save the Rhino members and the organization has gone from owning having two costumes to owning twelve. The costumes are icons of Save the Rhino; thanks to them the organization hasraised up to 2 million pounds by running marathons and participating in different raices across Africa in the rhino costumes. At present there is even a waiting list to borrow the costumes for the London Marathon!

AN EXHAUSTIVE AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORK

In just over 20 years, Save the Rhino has established its activities in6 countries in Africa and 2 in Asiawhere it carries out different conservation and awareness programs about the threats faced byall five rhino speciespresent in these continents.

Among the Save the Rhino projects, many of which are supported by thethe ones that focus onmonitoring against poaching, providinguniforms para los for rangersat the national parks,rangers training programs,andimproving the facilitieswhere they live and work, should be highlighted.

KENYA

Rangers and dog units tracking poachers, Kenya (c) Save the Rhino International

  • Protection and conservation ofOI Jogi Conservancyand ranger trainning.
  • Creation of a financial assistance fund for theAssociation of Private Rhino Sanctuariesto cover all veterinary assitance costs, as well as those related to inteligence services to track and arrest poachers.
  • Trainning courses for intelligence services to detect poaching practices.
  • Development of ranger teams and dog units atBorana Conservancy.
  • Protection of the last trully wild rhino populations throughBig Life Foundation.

TANZANIA

  • Development of and environmental education program for local communities atRafiki wa Faru.

ZAMBIA

Environmental Education Program at Lolesha Luangwa, Zambia (c) Tristan Vince

  • Financial support to theNorth Luangwaconservation program to buy vehicles, hire rangersimprove facilities and train surveillance teams.
  • Contributing to theLolesha Luangwa Education Programwith school supplies and hired teachers for 21 schools.

ZIMBABWE

  • Supply of vehicles for veterinarians, payment of coaches salaries and creating awareness among local populations throughLowveld Rhino Trust.

NAMIBIA

  • Financial support to buy vehicles and to cover the personnel and operations costa at theSave The Rhino Trust, as well as support to field work since the 1990s.
  • Collaboration with theNamibian Ministry of Environment and Tourismto translocate threatened rhinos.

SOUTH AFRICA

White rhino, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa (c) Save the Rhino International

  • Helping providing rangers with equipment and supporting them in high risk work situations in theuMkhuze Game Reserve
  • Financing the special equipment against poaching at theHluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
  • Providing financial support to create and train dog tracking teams

VIETNAM

Awareness raising in Vietnam to reduce the high demand of rhino horns. (c) Education for Nature-Vietnam

  • SupportingEducation for Nature-Vietnamin spreading their awareness campaigns.
  • Developing their own awareness campaigns throughTRAFFIC Vietnamabout poaching and rhino horn trafficking.

INDONESIA

  • Covering costs at theSumatran Rhino Sanctuaryand creating a breeding facility.
  • Helping rangers atThe Rhino Protection Unit program,which is active at many Indonesian national parks.
  • Forestal cleaning of Arenga palm trees, an invassive species which is taking over the Javan forest, and working to restore Javan rhino populations at theJavan Rhino Study and Conservation Area.