#YourStory – going red for rhinos

The greatest threat to our wildlife is the belief that someone else will save it.

March 2, 2016

Sascha-Lee Solomons 2 minutes read

Join the Wear Red For Rhino's initiative and help protect these gentle giants.

The decrease in the number of rhinos is a growing concern for Donna Brown.

She has started the Wear Red For Rhino’s initiative as anti-poaching efforts rely heavily on donations.

She said in 2015, the Pilanesberg National Park lost 10 rhinos and unfortunately has been hit-hard by rhino poaching already this year.

“While we consider these numbers as still too high, we have observed the importance and necessity of a well trained and well-equipped Rhino Protection Unit. This unit works exclusively in the Pilanesberg,” she said.

In addition, Donna said the initiative is about creating and sustaining awareness about the rhino poaching problem that is still faced.

“I think many people may be tired of hearing about the plight of our rhinos but the sad truth is that the war is still far from over and if we don’t continue to fight, we may lose our rhinos forever,” she said. A second aim of this initiative is to help raise funds for the anti-poaching efforts in Pilanesberg, as looking after the rhinos is an expensive task.

Donna has been involved in raising funds for anti-poaching efforts since January 2013.

“My dad’s company supplied water bottles to be sold to raise funds for anti-poaching efforts and as a thank you, he was invited to attend a rhino notching in Pilanesberg. He was unable to make it and I went in his place. Since then it has been my passion to stand up for these gentle giants,” she said.

She is passionate about this cause and met with Ms Perry Dell, who manages the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust, a few years ago and since then Donna and her family have been involved in fundraising for this cause in Pilanesberg.

A few weeks ago I thought of the idea to get schools in particular involved in raising awareness.

“I believe that much of our rhino’s future lies in the hands of the youth of today and if they can recognise how important it is to protect our rhinos, our rhinos might just stand a chance. Thus, the Wear Red For Rhinos initiative was born. The Bedfordview Remedial Learning Centre was the first organisation to join our initiative. They donated a total of R2 267 to The Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust. A big thank you to all the staff and pupils for their support and for being true rhino warriors,” she said.

Donna said they want to encourage schools, businesses and organisations to allocate one day per month/per term to this initiative.

“Participants will demonstrate their dedication to our rhinos by donating R5 (or another chosen amount) and wearing red on the allocated day.

It will be up to the school or organisation to allocate which day is suitable for them,” she said.

For more information, go to www.pilanesbergwildlifetrust.co.za

“There is a quote that I absolutely love and I first read it when it was posted on social media by Wild Heart – The greatest threat to our wildlife is the belief that someone else will save it,” said Donna.

#YourStory

Check out some of the other #YourStory articles:

#YourStory – Always wear a smile

#YourStory Viv – Edenvale’s outspoken unicorn

#YourStory – Make fitness a lifestyle

#YourStory: Kazakov dedicated to development

#YourStory: Little Busi’s story

#YourStory: New principal for Pinocchio

#YourStory: Little golfer with big dreams

#YourStory: Stalwart opens up about growing up in Edenvale

#YourStory: Dynamic Sister Leigh chats to the NEWS

#YourStory: Meet Mosesi, an activist at heart