Protect and Save the life of Our Rhinos

Dear supporter,

I bring you fantastic news on a great fundraising event that has helped us raise additional funds for this project. On the 11th and 12th of August, the GVI Karongwe staff and volunteers undertook a challenge helping this cause by climbing just under 50 km’s of the Fanie Botha Trail in the northern Drakensberg Mountains. This is a normally a five day hike that they took on in just 2 days! 

The starting location was the Ceylon Hut where they climbed 24 km’s to the Stables Hut. The next day they started the second leg of their adventure by hiking another 22 km’s to their destination, the President Burger’s Hut, where they celebrate with a BBQ! They essentially did a half marathon each day, through mountainous terrain, tackling Sections 1 and 2 in day one and Section 3 and ‘Link B’ on day two. Through their fantastic efforts, they raised an additional $2500 for this project which is fantastic news towards a great cause!

668 rhinos were illegally killed in SA in 2012, Over 400 have already been poached in the first half of 2013. This project aims to assist cash-strapped game reserves with rangers and equipment they need to effectively protect these rhinos.

Rhino poaching is a huge problem. In Limpopo, the financial incentive to rhino poachers combined with very high unemployment figures in rural communities, mean that poachers will force entry into the reserves to get a shot at a rhino, often at high risk to themselves. Many reserves are also partly funded by eco-tourism, so viewing these magnificent creatures is critical to the success of these lodges who employ many local staff, targeting unemployment figures and preventing poaching.

Thank you for your support to this project.

Many thanks

Sophie Birkett

Charitable Trust manager

Links:

• http://www.gvi.org