As the poaching situation in South Africa becomes more intense, so the threat to our Rhino populations increases. The children and teachers of Embury College have therefore decided to take a stand and create awareness around the situation.
Led by Mrs Greer Edwards, a Grade 4 teacher at the Durban school, the children put in huge amounts of effort to raise R25, 000 for Rhino conservation. They kindly donated the funds towards Wildlands Conservation Trusts’ Adopt-a-Rhino Programme, which supports Rhino conservation activities on Somkhanda Game Reserve, a community owned reserve in Zululand, KZN.
“The funds which Embury College have raised will be used to carry out vital Rhino monitoring on the reserve as well as assisting with general management of the habitat,” commented Mark Gerrard of Wildlands. “Without the positive action and generosity shown by people such as those at Embury College, our Rhino populations would be exposed to much greater risks and we would have a much more difficult job in securing such populations,” said Gerrard.
Embury College have adopted a female Black Rhino which they have named “Mafuta”. It is hoped that through the Adopt a Rhino programme, these children will have a greater link to Rhino on the ground and will therefore feel part of the conservation drive against poaching.
“We would like to thank Embury College and Mrs Edwards for their support. It is people like this that are helping us in this tough fight against poachers,” commented Mark Gerrard of Wildlands.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)