A GROUP of local doctors have banded together to create something they hope will be a valuable instrument in the war against rhino poaching.
At the heart of the effort is Richards Bay orthopaedic surgeon, Doctor Eugene Viljoen.
Together, they produced a video that made its debut on Thursday – World Rhino Day – featuring virtuoso guitarist Eugene, who jokingly says he began playing around about the same time he started walking.
‘We went up to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park a while ago and after chatting to some people who work there we realised the situation facing our rhino is much worse than we ever knew,’ he said.
‘I walked away with a feeling of intense need to help, and I thought to myself maybe I could use my music to try and make a difference.’
And Eugene did just that.
‘I decided to learn how to play a song called ‘Dance of the Last Rhino’ by Jon Gomm, a fantastic musician from Leeds in the UK.’
With quite a bit of help from his wife Gerda as well as Drs Dudley and Christine Kelbe, and Vince Grobler of Motionworx, they put together the amazing video.
Dance of the Last Rhino is a percussion guitar composition, and as Eugene will tell you, it’s no easy piece to learn.
The backdrop to this video, which was shot at local game reserves and includes clips from newsreels, is a very sombre one indeed.
Figures issued last week indicate as many as 114 rhinos have been found slaughtered so far in 2016.
‘Instead of shrugging our shoulders and walking away from this incredibly sad disaster, I decided to do something and we feel everybody else should too.
‘We would like to challenge everybody to contribute in their own special way – even if it’s just a drawing, comment, song, your child’s sketch of a rhino or a video like ours.’
Post it under the hash tag #DanceOfTheLastRhino
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
