Young animal activist fights for rhinos
Thus far the young animal activist has recruited 50 members among her school mates at Crawford College La Lucia
uMhlanga resident, Shiara Covenden is passionate about animals. This passion has prompted the 16-year-old to start her own rhino club – the Rhino Heroes.
Thus far the young animal activist has recruited 50 members among her school mates at Crawford College La Lucia. No more than a week ago Covenden shunned her fear of public speaking to address her school at assembly.
“I have always had a passion for animals. I would do anything to protect them. When I spoke as assembly I did not even really think about how scary it was. I just wanted to get the message across,” she said.
The aim, said the Grade 9 pupil was that the club members would be able to get involved and organise fundraising events, such as car washes, sales and ‘chivvy days’ at school to raise funds for the various anti rhino poaching organisations and rehab centres to help protect the endangered species.
“Rhinos are close to home. I have had the privileged of seeing them in them wild and I hope to see them again. Then there are some people that do not know what they look like. I want to make a difference, as I see all animals as part of my family, and I want to stand up and protect my family,” she said.
Covenden was also able to collect 248 signatures for the Project Rhino KZN World Wildlife Youth Declaration, which will be sent to Vietnam in November, urging its government to clamp down on rhino poaching.
Last year Santhuri Badal, a Danville Park Girls’ High school pupil and Covenden were inducted as World Youth Wildlife Ambassadors at the World Youth Rhino Summit in Seula Zimbili on KZN’s North Coast. Designed to raise awareness of the plight of the rhino, the summit saw a number of team-building activities alongside a rhino conservation discussion and debate programme.
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