Donations have come in fast and furious in support of the Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage which is nearing completion.
Five donors put their hands up to get involved.
The rhino orphanage, which is being built using funds received from an Austrian NGO, ‘Vier Pfoten’ (Four Paws), will have a quarantine area, an intensive care unit, nursery, a bio-control room and a boma.
At the handover ceremony of a printer for the orphanage office by Juiced Technology and Lexmark International, owner Francoise Malby-Anthony also announced the donation of a tracking collar for one of their rhinos by the Chipenbere Rhino Foundation, plus a further donation to be used for the training of security staff at the reserve.
She further announced the launch of the Adopt-a-Rhino project, which will raise money for the day-to-day running of the orphanage.
Two donors immediately stepped forward and pledged their support.
American couple Vern and Brenda Otte were the first ‘foster parents’ in the project and they were soon followed by Australia’s Joanne Edwards.
The Ottes come from Kansas and decided to call their baby rhino ‘Kansas’, while Sydney-based Edwards christened her baby ‘Sydney’.
Anyone who wishes to adopt a rhino can contact Jen Bussio at admin@thula-thula.co.za.
