White Rhino grazing at Monate Lodge

Wednesday 28 September 2011

ACT launches Skydive for Rhinos campaign

30 staff members and supporters of the African Conservation Trust (ACT) will be leaping out of a plane on 6th August to raise awareness and funding for anti-poaching activities that are urgently needed to protect South Africa’s remaining Black and White Rhino populations.
As the number of Rhinos slain for their horns escalated to over 160 in the first 130 days of 2011, so did ACT’s desire to get more involved and support those on the front line of anti-poaching efforts, who are up against what is increasingly organised crime. However, ACT is at full stretch with several large water conservation, food security and heritage projects and does not have spare reserves of funding that can be directed to protecting SA’s Rhinos, particularly those in KZN, ACT’s home province. Hence, the Skydive for Rhinos project was created.
What started out as a group of six female staff members bravely putting aside their fear of heights (and all common sense) to throw themselves out of a plane in a show of support for Rhinos under threat, grew within hours to 30 (equally crazy) people, the maximum number that Skydive Durban can accommodate in one day.
100% of the money raised will go towards Rhino protection activities that are struggling to counteract poaching because of funding shortages. These activities include equipping anti-poaching patrol teams, GPS tracking, Rhino identification and aerial surveillance. Individuals and businesses may sponsor the team in many ways including sponsoring individual members, one off donations, sponsorship of the identification and micro-chipping of individual Rhino’s and donations of equipment.

http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/environment/act_launches_skydive_for_rhinos_campaign.html

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