Ï㽶ÊÓƵÎÛÎÛ°æ

Rhinos’ prehistoric and strong appearance has fascinated men for centuries andÌýeven elephants are wearyÌýof their physical power. Yet,Ìýonly five rhino species surviveÌýtoday: theÌýwhite rhinoÌý() and theÌýblack rhinoÌý() in Africa; and theÌýIndianÌýorÌýGreater one-hornedÌýrhinoÌý(),ÌýtheÌýJavan rhinoÌý() and theÌýSumatran rhinoÌý() in Asia.ÌýAll five of these species are currently threatened.

Poaching statistics in Africa between 2006 and 2017 (c) Save the Rhino International

°Õ³ó±ðÌýÌýcollaborates withÌý, an internationa organization working restlessly to protect all rhino species and prevent their extinction.

¿WHAT IS SAVE THE RHINO?

Ìý

Everything began when to rhino lovers,ÌýDave StirlingÌýandÌýJohnny Roberts, travelled toÌýAfrica to raise funds to stop rhino poaching activities. The moment was critical:Ìýbetween 1970 and 1993 hunting for black rhino was out of control, so much so that, at a certain point, there wereÌýonly 2,475 black rhinosÌýleft in the world.

Three white rhinos. (c) Save the Rhino International

After their trip and due to what they had seen and learnt about conservation, those two friends created Save the Rhino with the objective of seeing all 5 rhino species that still existÌý(black, white, Indian, Javan and Sumatran)Ìýwould thrive in the wildÌýfor future generations. To achieve this goal, they set out toÌýwork hand in hand with their partners to support all threatened rhinos in Africa and Asia.

RHINOS WHO RUN MARATHONS

Ìý

After creating Save the Rhino, Stirling and Roberts found some unconditional allies.ÌýGerald Scarfe, a theatrical costume designer, had created a rhino costume for a musical adaptation of the playÌýRhinoceros, by Eugène Ionesco. One of the actors in the musical , William Todd-Jones – who has also worked in films likeÌýThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,ÌýHarry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixÌýoÌýThe Neverending StoryÌý– had heard about Save the Rhino and wanted to donate the rhino costumes.

Stirling and Roberts not only accepted the donation, but they also challenged Todd-Jones toÌýparticipate in the London Marathon with them wearing the costumesÌýto raise funds for Save the Rhino’s cause. Since them, the race has become a tradition among Save the Rhino members and the organization has gone from owning having two costumes to owning twelve. The costumes are icons of Save the Rhino; thanks to them the organization hasÌýraised up to 2 million pounds by running marathons and participating in different raices across Africa in the rhino costumes. At present there is even a waiting list to borrow the costumes for the London Marathon!

Ìý

AN EXHAUSTIVE AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORK

Ìý

In just over 20 years, Save the Rhino has established its activities inÌý6 countries in Africa and 2 in AsiaÌýwhere it carries out different conservation and awareness programs about the threats faced byÌýall five rhino speciesÌýpresent in these continents.

Among the Save the Rhino projects, many of which are supported by theÌýÌýthe ones that focus onÌýmonitoring against poaching, providingÌýuniforms para los for rangersÌýat the national parks,Ìýrangers training programs,ÌýandÌýimproving the facilitiesÌýwhere they live and work, should be highlighted.

KENYA

Rangers and dog units tracking poachers, Kenya (c) Save the Rhino International

• Protection and conservation ofÌýOI Jogi ConservancyÌýand ranger trainning.
• Creation of a financial assistance fund for theÌýAssociation of Private Rhino SanctuariesÌýto cover all veterinary assitance costs, as well as those related to inteligence services to track and arrest poachers.
• Trainning courses for intelligence services to detect poaching practices.
• Development of ranger teams and dog units atÌýBorana Conservancy.
• Protection of the last trully wild rhino populations throughÌýBig Life Foundation.

TANZANIA

• Development of and environmental education program for local communities atÌýRafiki wa Faru.

ZAMBIA

Environmental Education Program at Lolesha Luangwa, Zambia (c) Tristan Vince

• Financial support to theÌýNorth LuangwaÌýconservation program to buy vehicles, hire rangersimprove facilities and train surveillance teams.
• Contributing to theÌýLolesha Luangwa Education ProgramÌýwith school supplies and hired teachers for 21 schools.

ZIMBABWE

• Supply of vehicles for veterinarians, payment of coaches salaries and creating awareness among local populations throughÌýLowveld Rhino Trust.

NAMIBIA

• Financial support to buy vehicles and to cover the personnel and operations costa at theÌýSave The Rhino Trust, as well as support to field work since the 1990s.
• Collaboration with theÌýNamibian Ministry of Environment and TourismÌýto translocate threatened rhinos.

SOUTH AFRICA

White rhino, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa (c) Save the Rhino International

• Helping providing rangers with equipment and supporting them in high risk work situations in theÌýuMkhuze Game Reserve
• Financing the special equipment against poaching at theÌýHluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
• Providing financial support to create and train dog tracking teams

VIETNAM

Awareness raising in Vietnam to reduce the high demand of rhino horns. (c) Education for Nature-Vietnam

• SupportingÌýEducation for Nature-VietnamÌýin spreading their awareness campaigns.
• Developing their own awareness campaigns throughÌýTRAFFIC VietnamÌýabout poaching and rhino horn trafficking.

INDONESIA

• Covering costs at theÌýSumatran Rhino SanctuaryÌýand creating a breeding facility.
• Helping rangers atÌýThe Rhino Protection Unit program,Ìýwhich is active at many Indonesian national parks.
• Forestal cleaning of Arenga palm trees, an invassive species which is taking over the Javan forest, and working to restore Javan rhino populations at theÌýJavan Rhino Study and Conservation Area.