Rhino day gets huge support
World Rhino Day enjoyed tremendous support from the people of Zululand who visited the Boardwalk Inkwazi shopping centre over the weekend
PROJECT Rhino KZN (PRKZN) organisers are thrilled with the way things went at the weekend’s ‘Ubhejane Tourism Indaba’ held at the Inkwazi Boardwalk shopping centre.
‘It was a resounding success and we received more interest and support from the Zululand community than we ever imagined,’ said PRKZN’s Sheelagh Antrobus.
‘Over R18 000 was donated by visitors to the centre and we thank the management, tenants and staff for giving Project Rhino KZN enormous exposure and the opportunity to speak directly with thousands of Zululand residents who live in ‘KZN Rhino Country’,’ said Antrobus.
On Friday night, entrants to the first Miss Tourism Zululand pageant kicked off the weekend, and both the Miss Teen and the overall Miss Tourism Zululand Queen will be ambassadors for PRKZN during the year of their reign.
As part of their prizes, both winners will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close to wild rhinos, courtesy of the Zululand Rhino Reserve who will host them on a rhino micro-chip and DNA darting process.
On Saturday and Sunday, the PRKZN World Rhino Day display resounded to the sounds of Zulu drumming, singing and dancing, courtesy of the Shakaland dancers and the Star for Life choir, who brought a rhino conservation message in song, dance and theatre.
Richards Bay High School displayed powerful messages against rhino poaching through their poetry and art and a number of other local schools handed in their artworks as part of the Rhino Art – Let the Children’s Voices be Heard campaign through the Kingsley Holgate Foundation.
‘Mashozi’- the Rhino Land Rover was on display and shoppers added their messages of solidarity against rhino poaching.
Sales of rhino crosses, Project Rhino KZN bumper stickers and the unusual ‘Rhino Poo Lucky Dip’ for children helped to raise funds while Cape Union Mart provided rhino quiz contestants with prizes.
