Show your support for the rhino warriors

WWF campaign highlights South Africa's poaching crisis

August 2010: WWF has launched a campaign to raise support and funding for those rangers who put their lives on the line to protect Africa's rhinos. Rhino poaching has increased dramatically over the past year-and-a half, fuelled by demand for horn in Asia for use in traditional medicines.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT: WWF is asking for the public to show their support on Make Noise for Rhinos Day

South Africa, proud stronghold of the African black and white rhino with more than 90 per cent of Africa's rhino populations, has been losing at least 20 of the animals per month. In the past four years, about 600 rhinos were poached across the African continent.

‘We're asking people to take action to help us protect our remaining rhino populations and also support our rhino warriors - the men and women at the frontline who risk their lives daily against the sophisticated, ruthless and heavily-armed international criminal gangs who run the illegal rhino horn trade,' said Dr Joseph Okori, Head of WWF's African Rhino Programme.

During the month-long campaign WWF will be stepping up its support to security efforts in dangerous areas with high rates of poaching and will be seeking public support through awareness-raising events.

The month will culminate with Make Noise for Rhinos Day, during which WWF will ask people to dust off their vuvuzelas at 1pm CET on Wednesday, September 22 and make noise with the horns in support of African rhinos.

This symbolic call for action will tell governments around the world to take rhino poaching seriously by strengthening law enforcement and imposing strict legal penalties as successful deterrents to these crimes.

‘People can show their support by going to wwf.panda.org/rhino/donate where they can offer donations for rhino conservation, learn more about issues pertaining to saving rhinos and also share this information with others,' says Dr Okori.

‘Together we can stop the criminal elements that are plundering our national heritage and a global asset.' Donations will buy much-needed anti-poaching equipment for guards including binoculars, radios, night-vision gear, body armour, and rhino-tracking and camping equipment. Donations also will provide training for anti-poaching units and be used for emergency veterinary treatments for injured rhino.

‘The poaching trend is extremely worrying,' says Dr Okori. ‘If it is not stopped, the rhino conservation wins of the last decade will be in jeopardy, which will greatly affect biodiversity as well as the tourism industry and the communities that benefit from it.'