Cross-border conservation
Conservationist Jay Azran took to reptile infested waters to raise funds for rhino anti-poaching.
SWAZILAND-based conservationist, Jay Azran, took to the crocodile, hippo and tiger fish infested waters of Jozini Dam last month in a bid to raise much needed funds for rhino anti-poaching.
This, the first ever attempt to swim 2.5km across the far northern reaches of Jozini Dam, along the South Africa-Swaziland border, was a huge success and a ground-breaking initiative for cross-border conservation.
Every cent of the R75 000 raised goes to Project Rhino KZN, to be spent on anti-poaching and rhino conservation strategies approved by the charity’s 18 member organisations.
Azran completed the distance in under forty minutes and was welcomed by his daughter, Jordana, on the far banks of the dam.
‘I was worried about the wind factor on the waters of Jozini Dam, which creates big waves and could turn a reasonably short swim into a marathon-attempt,’ said Azran. ‘The swim went well, the support for the event was fantastic and I would like to thank all who attended, especially the eight support boats with crew from both Swaziland and South Africa,’ said Azran in acknowledgement of his support on the day.
Acknowledging the presence of internationally funded criminal syndicates fuelling poaching across the whole of southern and central Africa while taking no notice of country borders or laws, Antrobus noted, ‘Cross-border co-operation is absolutely crucial if we’re going to turn the tide on rhino poaching in South Africa and other countries equally affected by ruthless poaching syndicates.’
‘While Azran’s fund-raising efforts deserve every accolade possible, what is equally important is the forging of cross-border friendships against a common enemy,’ said Sheelagh Antrobus, Project Rhino KZN Co-ordinator.
Project Rhino representatives attending the event came from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, WESSA, the Game Rangers Association of Africa, the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization, African Conservation Trust, Wildlife ACT and Space for Elephants.
Project Rhino KZN was established in 2010 at the onset of the rhino poaching crisis. It is made up of state, private and civil society stakeholders, including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, private rhino owners and well-known conservation NGOs working together against the growing threats of rhino poaching and other wildlife crimes in KwaZulu-Natal.
