For those of you who have been following our London Marathon posts on the website and Face Book over the past month, here is the final post on this fundraising activity!
Craig Reid, Liwonde National Parks (and London Marathon athlete) is listed as one of the TOP FUNDRAISERS for his outstanding effort in raising over £6 750 for Rhino Conservation in Liwonde National Park, during the Virgin Money London Marathon 2018
Running with REX, this is Craig's story:
I have been privileged over the past 25 years to work in some of Africa’s truly wild and amazing places. The vast majority of this time has been in Parks dedicated to the conservation of black and white rhino. I started my career in the world famous Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park in South Africa which is where I met my good friend and colleague, Frank Carlisle who founded Bhejane Adventures and the Rex the Rhino Conservation Fund.
Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park is well known for being the place that the southern white rhino was saved from extinction - a real testament to both Craig and Frank's efforts in protecting these incredible animals, side by side with Rangers.
WELL DONE CRAIG! Our hearty congratulations.
Dr David Cooper has been the KZN Wildlife vetinarian for many years. Over and above being involved in game capture, he also has the very big responsibility of caring for all sick animals and orphaned rhinos. Dr Dave also has to do all the tranquilizing of the animals such as elephant, lion, buffalo, cheetah and of course rhino - for various research monitoring programs. These monitoring programs are very important to the survival of these species. Rex the Rhino Conservation Fund is very proud to say that we were able to help Dr Dave by acquiring much needed tranquilizer darts and drugs to continue to perform these vital functions. At the same time, we salute this incredible conservation icon who knows no limits to his compassion to wildlife.
This month is Water Quality Month and we celebrated by buying two JoJo Water Tanks for our Hero's of Conservation. We did this with the money raised from the sale of our Rex Toys bought by our wonderful clients who always support our cause. The game guards now enjoy access to clean drinking water from two additional sources. Thank you all for your ongoing support!
What better way of celebrating World Rangers Day, than by providing the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Game Reserve rangers with access to clean water and new uniforms.
Long-time friends of the Rex the Rhino Conservation Fund, Rick and Denise Neilands and Rotary Ballito, added to the funds already raised and purchased new uniforms for all 120 rangers in the park. Our gratitude and appreciation always
Well done to all! We have done it again. They say that every little bit counts. And when delivered into the right hands, it counts even more. This month the Rex the Rhino Conservation Fund was able to provide much needed rifle cleaning kits from the funds raised through the sale of our shweshwe rhino toys.
In the picture is the iMfolozi Park Manager, Patrick Sibeko and two of the wonderful game rangers at iMfolozi Park that do the hard yards protecting rhinos. We can’t thank you enough.
This month the Rex the Rhino Conservation Fund was able to provide milk powder for baby rhino’s orphaned as a result of poaching, giving these little guys a fighting chance of survival
Rex is proudly practical. The clothing the game rangers wear has to be comfortable, durable and hardwearing. This is an ongoing need and we are very proud that the Rex the Rhino Conservation Fund has been able to provide these rangers with uniforms that offer as much protection as they provide!
So many of our clients get involved with Rex and this time the on going support and regular donations from Peter and Lesley Guthrie (RLI Lifts), ensured these iMfolozi Game Rangers were supplied with brand new heavy duty overalls – we can’t thank you enough.
To prevent the ranger’s families from being intimidated by poaching gangs, funds raised have been used to install security systems in a number of ranger’s homes in the park. This means, while these conservation heroes are out on patrol, they can rest assured their families back home are safe
With the addition of a new ranger and his family to Hluhluwe iMfolozi Game Reserve, the Rex the Rhino Conservation Fund decided to give this young family a warm welcome. Their new home was repainted both inside and outside in preparation for their arrival.
In the war against poaching he who is better equipped, better trained, better motivated and better camouflaged, wins. Standard issue khaki field ranger uniforms do not stand up to the rigours of long range anti-poaching patrols, thorny bushes, ticks, mud, dust, rivers and rain. However, a South African uniform company has developed an overall that handles all the above, is excellent camouflage and provides comfort during those long hot hours in the field.
After Rex gave the Zimbali Rotary Club a Rhino Conservation presentation, the Club got involved and the result was a substantial donation of a large number of these specialised uniforms for the game guards at iMfolozi. Pictured here are Rick and Denise Neilands, Kosh and Kay Thaver from Zimbali Rotary with the proud rangers from the Park.
The Rex the Rhino Conservation Fund provided Rangers and Anti-Poaching Units with much needed equipment which they were able to use in apprehending four suspected poachers in the park this month.
Funds raised at the Ngwenya Glass Auction during the Bhejane Three Countries tour initiated by Riaan Haasbroek and so enthusiastically participated in by the Bhejane clients on this tour, provided the Field Rangers in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Game Reserve with much needed equipment for their patrols in the park.
The Ridge school pupil, Matthew Williams has been a phenomenal inspiration for Rhino Conservation in his fundraising ability for this cause. During the month of November, we travelled to KZN with Matthew where together we met the rangers and handed over the equipment bought from these funds. Matthew’s story is a testament of his determination and resolve and we are humbled by his commitment.