Crown Rehab offers to help rhino owners
René Olivier, owner of Crown Rehabilitation and Conservation Wildlife Centre joined hands with private rhino owners to help raise money for the protection of rhinos on private farms
POLOKWANE – René Olivier, owner of Crown Rehabilitation and Conservation Wildlife Centre joined hands with private rhino owners to help raise money for the protection of rhinos on private farms.
This comes after Review’s article last week, about private rhino owners who were not part of any game reserve and who were struggling to protect the rhinos from poachers without financial assistance.
Two weeks ago a rhino was shot and killed by poachers on a farm a few kilometres outside the city.
A private rhino owner said: “There are 250 organisations raising funds for the protection of rhino’s but all the money goes to the South African National Parks (SANParks) and none of these funds are available for private rhino owners.
“SANParks received over R100 million last year and their poaching rates are increasing.
“The private game farmer is and will be the only hope for rhinos, because they will protect their rhinos just as they have been protecting their cattle for generations.
“I don’t think there is anyone in our country or abroad without a “Save the Rhino” shopping bag or bracelet.
The rhino owner added that private rhino farmers with a few animals in their protection, would be the only ones really saving the species and needed help from the public in doing so.
“There is no financial assistance for us. We had no fewer than three poachings in a 50km radius from last week. All I am doing now is lying awake at night, waiting to hear the shots. I have contacted over 100 groups and fund raising organisations, a lot of them very helpful with information but no funding,” the rhino owner said.
Review spoke to a few organisations that supported rhino awareness and they confirmed that most funds went to SANParks, but also said that on a minimal basis, there was help for private rhino owners who were not part of of any game reserve.
Residents who wish to support and help private rhino owners can deposit their donation into the following account:
Account holder: Crown Conservation Rehab.
Bank: FNB.
Account number: 62326663607.
Branch code: 260226.
Reference: Rhinos.
Private rhino owners beg for help to save beasts
R170 000 to save the KNP rhinos
