Gondwana Game Reserve and GCF Race to Save Rhinos in Cape Pioneer Trek 2016
Two avid mountain bikers, Devon Carl Naude and Roy Hannington from Table Mountain Bikers club in Cape Town are embarking on their first Cape Pioneer Trek Race from 16 – 22 October to raise funds for the Gondwana Conservation Foundation (GCF) . The 7-day race stretches a grueling 496 kilometers in distance with an overall ascent of 9,620 meters in and around the Garden Route near Mossel Bay. The first stage of the race will be traversing through Gondwana Game Reserve and has been named #GondwanaGlory by the organizers. Gondwana felt this epic mountain bike race would be a fantastic platform to raise awareness for the conservation foundation and its Rainbow Rhino Initiative which employs counter poaching training and cutting edge technology to protect and distribute Rhino in Africa.
Our goal is to raise R1,000 per Km of R496,000 for the Rainbow Rhino Initiative which funds counter poaching training courses (7 days) focusing on tracking, crime scene investigation and drone surveillance. Funds have been donated to develop a counter poaching training facility which is nearly complete on the 11,000 hectare, private, Big 5 reserve located in the Garden Route. The funds raised would go to securing vital training equipment needed, including night vision glasses, safety equipment, lecturing equipment as well as subsidizing multiple over the next 12 months. The foundation has played an integral role facilitating all key anti-poaching role players in the region including SAPS, Cape Nature, State Vets, Game Rangers Association of Africa, and the private sector to coordinate rhino poaching crime scene roles and responsibilities.
The poaching of Rhino in Southern Africa and in South Africa in particular has been increasing exponentially over the past five years. In 2013 more rhino were killed than born. The Rainbow Rhino initiative has 3 tactical approaches to contribute to this epidemic. First, to establish a “Best of Class” counter poaching training facility developing and utilizing latest counter-poaching technology. Second, establish a core breeding population of rhino from which a custodianship program can be launched, distributing new founder populations of rhino throughout Africa. Third, to partner with technology companies to create interactive awareness of rhino relocations through the latest GPS and drone technology allowing international communities to follow real time movement and imagery of individual rhino.
The Rainbow Rhino Initiative’s ultimate 10-year goal is to train and deploy over 100 soldiers throughout Southern Africa who will be able to protect over 500 rhino, as well as to introduce and breed up to 165 rhino through the custodianship program. The foundation will work with conservation authorities where an anti-poaching rhino package can be developed including the deployment of a highly trained counter poaching unit of equipped soldiers together with a viable breeding herd of rhino to various high potential game reserves throughout Africa.
What can you do? Rhinos in the wild will be extinct by 2020 if the levels of poaching continue, experts have warned. Donate towards the Rainbow Rhino Initiative and help us make headway in abolishing poaching and protecting our threatened rhino across Africa. Spread the word! The rhino poaching epidemic needs everyone’s help to stop it!
GCF is calling on all corporates and individuals with a love for conservation and a particularly interest in saving our rhino to please donate to this worthy cause and cheer our boys on during this exciting but strenuous event.
To make a donation please click here for bank details and use reference: Name and RideGCF
Please also send an email notifying us of your contribution with name/organisation and sponsored KM’s to marketing@gondwanagr.co.za – all contributors will be mentioned and thanked on social media platforms and in Gondwana’s end of year newsletter. Follow our progress on our facebook page and blog!
The aim is to raise R496 000 – so please get donating!
Photos by Tristan Sandwith
