Gondwana Game Reserve Celebrates World Rhino Day
World Rhino Day was celebrated today, Thursday the 22nd September and Gondwana, through our Gondwana Conservation Foundation, hosted 125 school kids from numerous schools in the Mossel Bay area for a carnival style celebration. There were educational talks, hands on activities, SAPS K9 unit, music, food and fun for everybody concerned. We celebrated our Rhinos and then highlighted the risk of poaching we face as well as the consequences poachers face when caught.
Our grassy plains transformed into a stage for the Langeberg SAPS Dog Unit tracker dog and endangered species specialist tracker dog. Activity stations were set up and kids learnt about our Rhinos and the dedicated Anti-Poaching Unit we deploy to protect them. Rain could not dampen the spirits and lesson were learnt about feeding habits, threats faced, investigation of wildlife crime and the technological aids we use to combat poaching. The take home message for all the children was simple; Everyone has a role to play in saving our rhinos and the first step is awareness within our immediate community. Participants were tasked to take this message home and in turn inform their peers, families and schools about the lesson learned on the day.
Lenny, our life size rhino model became the focus of the day with the personal messages of support written on Lenny in bright colours. Named after a Black Rhino that used to call Gondwana home, Lenny will be sent into the community for regional display to further raise awareness and spread this important message. This World Rhino Day celebration was a successful collaboration between Gondwana and our surrounding community.
Because we love Rhinos and our world needs them, these kids are determined to contribute to keeping Rhinos safe.
By Conservation and Sustainability Manager Jono Berry
