An Aussie charity is helping to save a majestic
endangered species, before it’s too late
Words Darren Wells; photography Phil Hinescall of the wild
Every six hours, a rhino in South Africa
is killed for its horn. And despite what
poachers and buyers believe, there’s
no scientific evidence to suggest the
horn provides any medicinal benefit- it’s made of similar material to our
own hair and fingernails.
Unfortunately, this hasn’t stopped
rhinos from being hunted and their
horn incorporated into uses ranging
from medicine to status symbols.
Believe it or not, the value of rhino
horn in South Africa is worth more
than double of gold, with prices rising
this year to US$103,000 per kilo. With
those dollar signs incentive enough,
these majestic animals will continue
to be targeted by illegal hunters.
Thankfully, the Australian Rhino
Project is aiming to save this iconic
animal. Over four years, it plans to
transport 80 rhinos by plane from
private farms in South Africa to
locations in Australia, with the ultimate
goal of creating and maintaining a
breeding herd of rhinos away from
poachers. Should illegal poaching
see their end in the wild, the species
would still survive in captivity in
our own backyard, before being
reintroduced, with a new generation
of young, to its native African habitat.T
he world’s a big place, but it seems its animal pool is
shrinking ever smaller. The media spotlight can give
causes their due attention – Cecil the Lion put a face
to the fabulous cat family targeted in the name of sport – but
it came at the cost of an unnecessary death. Already on the
brink, the fate of the South African rhinoceros cannot afford
to wait, since no action now means no rhinos at all by 2024.better pets
For more information or to make a donation, visit theaustralianrhinoproject.orgDistributed by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. © Disney.