Learners say no to rhino poaching at Joburg Zoo
SAXONWOLD – Children learn about the plight of rhinos at Joburg Zoo as they celebrate World Rhino Day.
Hundreds of learners of various schools were treated to a fun day at the Johannesburg Zoo celebrating World Rhino Day on 19 September.
Environmental educationist at Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo Nathi Mvula said the purpose of the day was to raise awareness about the plight of the rhino and threats to its existence such as poaching.
Children were given workshops by various stakeholders including World Wildlife Fund (WWF) before they embarked on a march around the zoo holding posters, alerting zoo visitors about the plight of the rhino.
Mvula said, “Bad people kill rhinos for their horns. Because animals can’t speak, we must speak for them. We are against the abuse of animals.”
Rhino keeper Alice Masombuka talked to children about the role of rhinos in the ecosystem and made them aware of the poaching problem.
Masombuka said rhino poaching decreased in South Africa from 1 028 poaching incidents in 2017 to 768 in 2018. She hoped that the poaching incidents would continue on a downward trajectory.
Learners chanted ‘No to rhino poaching’, ‘Stop killing rhinos’ and ‘Leave my horn alone’ as they marched energetically around the zoo.
Watch:
https://www.facebook.com/rkgazette/videos/779654329130763/
Grade 7 teacher at Madume Primary School in Orange Farm Tebe Sethabela said she was pleased that the learners were able to be educated at the zoo. “They must know what conservation is all about. They must keep planting trees and caring for animals. They also learnt not to poach the rhinos.”
Related articles:
Schools learn more about trees at Johannesburg Zoo in celebration of Arbor Day
