Taking anti-rhino poaching messages to the world

NUMEROUS government departments, conservation authorities and wildlife organisations joined forces in St Lucia on World Rhino Day yesterday, at an event hosted by iSimangaliso and the Department of Environmental Affairs, taking their ‘Not on our watch’ message to the world.

As one of the most significant rhino populations on the African continent, we take our role with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as custodians of our heritage very seriously,’ said Andrew Zaloumis, iSimangaliso CEO.

Part of the iSimangaliso ‘My rhino, our future’ campaign, the day started with a handover of banners, inscribed with anti-poaching sentiments, from school pupils to Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Barbara Thomson.

The handover forms part of iSimangaliso’s ‘rhino walk’ which, on its completion next week, would have seen over 11 000 pupils from 75 schools adjacent to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park walk the 220km length of the park.

The walk has been described as the ‘largest community awareness campaign in the country’.

‘The youth, as the moral, economic, political and thought leaders of tomorrow, are key in the battle that is being fought,’ said Thomson in her keynote speech.

‘They are future conservation leaders and the generation that will influence the continued existence of legal and illegal wildlife markets, contributing to a decline in the demand for rhino horn.’

Sheelagh Antrobus of Project Rhino KZN handed over the World Youth Wildlife Declaration, which was launched a year ago, to Thomson.

Weighing 7kg, the declaration is a worldwide call to action from young people against rhino poaching and other wildlife crime.

Thousands of messages from concerned citizens, including Dr Jane Goodall and the late Dr Ian Player, have been inscribed in the declaration over the past year.

The declaration will be handed over to the Vietnamese authorities when South Africa’s five Youth Rhino Ambassadors visit the country next month.