Only when the last of the animal’s horns, tusks, skin, and bones are sold, will mankind realize that money can never buy back our Wildlife.
Paul Oxton (Founder/Director of WHWF)
Frans Van Heerden
The Rhinoceros exudes grandeur in its stride and structure. Mighty creatures that send tremors across the landscape their stampede blessed with and flaunt intimidating gigantic horns that grow from their snout. Yet, they are peaceful creatures – loving, protective and very shy. You won't see they them hanging out with even those of their own species but they do have a best friend. Oxpeckers (or “tick birds”) are commonly seen to perch upon their back to pick at the pesky parasites that crawl on the creature’s armor-like skin. However, after millions of years of surviving, they are now face to face with their deadliest enemy – mankind.
Did you know that the last white rhinoceros passed away this year and now the species is extinct? Did you know that around 1028 rhinos were killed in 2017? Rhino populations are in critical danger. Rhino poaching and rhino horn smuggling are the biggest causes of this harrowing problem and there is clearly no serious effort on the government’s part to prevent extinction from happening. Ever since 2007, the problem of poaching has exponentially increased and it seems that the number is ceasing to settle.
South Africa is home to 80% of the world’s 29,000 rhinos and it is not looking at how rhinos are facing an imminent extinction. The problem is how much rhino horn is in demand because of ill-founded medicinal and luxury reasons. Some use it as some kind of high-end club drug, something that can be mixed with water or alcohol for a high. It's erroneously believed throughout most of Asia, especially in Vietnam, that rhino horn carries the medicinal value that has the capability to cure cancer as well as serving as an aphrodisiac. The simple fact is that rhino horn is made of keratin which is the same element that makes hair and fingernails. There is very scant evidence that rhino horn dust has any medicinal or drug-related effect. Lastly, since it is seen as a luxury item, it is also carved into works of art.
South Africa’s rhino poaching crisis is because of corruption and lack of coordination among law enforcement groups, says Richard Thomas, a spokesman for TRAFFIC. In a press release, South African environment minister Edna Molewa publicized that 21 government officials had been arrested for poaching-related crimes in 2017.
So what can we do to contribute to the safety of these majestic creatures? Donating to organizations that are dedicated to protecting rhinoceros' is the first step. A very notable one registered South-African non-profit organization is Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation. It’s founded and overseen by Tariku Bogale who is a producer, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, advisor, and author. WHWF operates various projects but is largely engaged in assisting with Wildlife Treatment and Rescue Operations. They operate all across Southern Africa.
Their main projects include a Rhino Orphanage where they are treating and healing these majestic victims and their babies who had their mothers mercilessly killed in poaching incidents (exactly like in this movie ‘Bloodline – Now or Never’) with the sole goal of rewilding them.
WHWF supports several Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centres, making sure that everything needed to help them survive directly reach the animals that are in critical situations and require help the most. WHWF is actively involved in Anti-Poaching and the relocation of Wildlife to more secure and stable locations; for re-stocking areas where wildlife had been depleted before, but have stabilized and become safe for animals once again. Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation believes in Transparency, keeping donors informed at every step of what their loving donations have achieved and been used for.
We really are grateful for these charitable human beings like Tariku Bogale who take the well-being of animals seriously and use their money for noble purposes. We urge you to donate to such organizations and uplift the poor state that this poisoned world has steeped in. What will be left for our children and upcoming generations to see if all that is majestic is gone? A depressing video of extinct animals on their iPad?
Take action.