World Rhino Day 2012: FIVE RHINO SPECIES FOREVER! World Rhino Day celebrates all five species of rhino and works to eliminate demand for rhino horn by highlighting efforts to debunk the medicinal myths about rhino horn. Please join us in our efforts to bring attention to the plight of these iconic pachyderms on September 22.
This year Save the Rhino plans to send 5 of our famous rhino costumes across the UK to take part in local events. We’ll also be holding our own event here in London.
We are looking for 5 enthusiastic volunteers and would like to hear your ideas. What would you do with a rhino costume for a day? For your chance to be involved with World Rhino Day, please visit our website at savetherhino.org and download our short application form. You can also get in touch with Katherine at katherine (at) savetherhino (dot) org for more information, or phone us on 020 7357 7474.
Port Lympne Wildlife Park in Kent, home to 15 (!) black rhinos is hosting a World Rhino Weekend, with lots of fun activities planned to ensure everyone learns something new about rhinos!
Port Lympne Wildlife Park in Kent, home to 15 (!) black rhinos.
“The Changing Face of the Rhino” will be presented on September 18th at the Royal Geographical Society in London with Dr. William Fowlds, a South African safari veterinarian. Tickets can be purchased from rhinolecture.eventbrite.co.uk and cost £20 including a drinks reception from 6pm.
“The Changing Face of the Rhino” will be presented on September 18th at the Royal Geographical Society in London.This event aims to raise awareness for the plight of the rhino through, and also to raise charitable funds to continue the work of, the educative curriculum of Voices of Conservation, along with supporting TUSK Trust and Born Free Foundation.
Celebrate the last day of Marwell Wildlife Go! Rhinos trail with a visit to Southampton to see the incredible rhino sculptures before their departure toMarwell Zooand subsequent auction. Download the free Go! Rhinos smartphone app or a trail map from gorhinos.co.uk.
Be sure to attend the Marwell Saving Species presentation at the Rhino enclosure at 4.15pm for a free raffle ticket to meet Kiri and Sula, their gorgeous white rhinos, and enter to win a face-to-face encounter with these gentle giants on the day. This prize is for up to four people!
Colchester Zoo will be supporting World Rhino Day, celebrating all five remaining rhino species and raising awareness about the trade in rhino horn! On Sunday 22 September, the Zoo will host a stall near the rhino enclosure with information on the current poaching crisis, the five remaining rhino species and information about rhinos at Colchester Zoo and on the UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve. You can help raise funds for the zoo’s chosen charity, Save the Rhino International, by purchasing rhino items from the stall, making rhino badges and masks and taking part in rhino-related activities.
Colchester Zoo’s rhino keepers are also offering a special opportunity for 50 people to meet Flossy the rhino! This will be a first come, first served event; with 2 groups of 25 visitors taking part at two times slots throughout the day. A requested minimum donation of £5 for adults and £3 for children is required for this special session, and tickets will be available at the stall (Please note, 10 – 15 year old children only are permitted to take part in this event and all children must be supervised by an adult). All proceeds will go towards Action for the Wild’s support of Save the Rhinos.
JoinKnowsley Safari Park on Sunday 22 September to celebrate World Rhino Day and get the know the largest of the 5 species of rhino – the white rhino!
The rhino team is devoting the day to giving guided rhino tours. The tours are guided by our rhino team and last approximately 30 minutes including getting to and back from the rhino reserve. Tickets are £5 per person and 100% of the money is going to rhino conservation. TOURS START at 11:30AM, FINAL TOUR at 3:30PM! Places are limited!
There are also rhino activities going on in the wild at art building including updates from the keepers from when they went to Zimbabwe to visit the Lowveld Rhino Trust in action. There will also be a collection of nail clippings donated by Knowsley staff and visitors to raise awareness of the myths surrounding the medicinal properties of Rhino horn in an attempt to change attitudes and beliefs (more details to follow!).
World Rhino Day is celebrated on 22 September.Auckland Zoo in New Zealand is celebrating World Rhino Day on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September.
To raise money for the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund (which currently supports Rhino conservation) all our Rhino keepers are having their heads shaved on Rhino weekend!
Auckland Zoo will have the following activities:
3 Rhino encounters each day.
Each visitor to the Zoo will receive a handout with a Rhino quiz and a rhino colouring in activity.
Rhino touch table with rhino artifacts
Competition to guess how much a wheelbarrow full of Rhino poo weighs
Display of how much food a Rhino eats per day
Display of Rhino enrichment items
Rhino hats as giveaways
Information displays about the 5 different types of Rhino
Information about our 3 rhinos and how to tell them apart
Information on the different features of rhinos, i.e., their ears, horn, skin etc.
Rhino Rap with Rap artist ‘Hugo’ and Zoo Member children will be written and recorded with an accompanying video clip prior to the event for showing on the day, and for weeks after;
Rhino play with puppet theatre, rhino foot print stamps, baby toy rhinos to feed;
Rhino information, jokes/riddles and messaging at our Safari Bus Station.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, in Dubbo, NSW, Australia will be joining people across the globe to celebrate WORLD RHINO DAY 2013, over the weekend of 21st and 22nd September.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s visitors already support the zoo’s breeding programs for 3 of the world’s 5 rhino species. But by visiting us on the 21st and 22nd September, you can help out a little bit more …
Visitors can help us raise vital funds for our conservation partner, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF)!
Enter the zoo and follow our ‘Rhino Trail’; discover more about the world’s rhinos
and what is being done to help them, at our special World Rhino Day keeper talks and
rhino feeds!
Lucky guests of our Wild Africa Encounter, Billabong Camp or Zoofari experiences
will get the chance to see some of our resident rhinos up close, and discover more
about their conservation.
Visitors have the chance to WIN a Wild Africa Encounter for 4 people! PLUS the Zoo’s Education department will also be running rhino themed classes and‘Zoo Adventures’, there will be donation buckets at the ‘Jump for Rhinos!’ jumping castle, and ‘Munch for Rhinos!’ Munch Mobile, and staff will be raising extra money with raffles and rhino crafts!
Can’t visit us that weekend? Don’t worry, as our ‘Rhino Trail’ is also online!
Sharing links, photos and stories via social media is proving invaluable as a way of spreading the word and raising awareness. So look out for more rhino keeper blogs on our website (www.taronga.org.au) and on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TarongaWesternPlainsZoo).
At least 15 countries participated in World Rhino Day 2012!
On September 22nd, 2012, the third annual World Rhino Day was celebrated, with over a dozen countries participating!
World Rhino Day brought NGOs, zoos, rhino sanctuaries, and concerned citizens across the globe together to raise awareness and funds for the five species of rhinoceros — all of which are under threat from the illegal rhino horn trade.
World Rhino Day was initiated by WWF in 2010 and has since become a global phenomenon. Here’s a look at some of the World Rhino Day 2012 success stories:
At the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia, Andatu celebrated his first World Rhino Day, along with his mom, Ratu, and resident rhinos Andalas (Andatu’s father), Rosa, and Bina.
All of the rhinos at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia received special treats on World Rhino Day 2012. Photo courtesy of International Rhino Foundation.
All of the Sumatran rhinos enjoyed a special basket of treats, prepared by their keepers.
To mark World Rhino Day, Save the Rhino International in London held its very first wine tasting event! 60 people enjoyed a fascinating evening, with Neil from Linton Park Wines delivering an informative talk about the seven different wines he had brought for guests to taste.
To mark World Rhino Day, Save the Rhino International in London held its very first wine tasting event. Photo courtesy of Save the Rhino International.
At the event, the work of Save the Rhino was introduced and guests took part in a rhino myth-buster quiz to help raise awareness. The event was kindly hosted by Vivat Bacchus restaurant, London Bridge.
In Hanoi, Education for Nature-Vietnam joined CITES Vietnam, the US Embassy in Vietnam and other wildlife protection organizations, in a World Rhino Day ceremony. Hunting, illegal trade, and rhino horn consumption led to extinction of the Javan Rhino in Vietnam in 2010, and now Vietnam is one of the main markets contributing to the killing of rhinos elsewhere, especially in South Africa.
In Hanoi, Education for Nature-Vietnam joined CITES Vietnam, the US Embassy in Vietnam and other wildlife protection organizations, in a World Rhino Day ceremony. Photo courtesy of Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV).
Within the framework of this event, ENV held a small wildlife trade exhibit with information boards and banners. The general message of the exhibit was to stop consumption and trade of rhino horn, as well as other wildlife.
In Harare, Zimbabwe, citizens gathered for musical entertainment and a parade, where they marched from Town House to Africa Union Square. Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment addressed the crowd, saying that 2012 was special in that it was dedicated to the Year of the Rhino and should inspire co-operation for rhino conservation amongst countries, governments, private sector and individuals.
Crowds gathered in Harare, Zimbabwe, for musical entertainment and a parade, where they marched from Town House to Africa Union Square. Photo courtesy of Tikki Hywood Trust.
As in previous years, South Africa went all out for World Rhino Day, with multiple events organized by concerned citizens, businesses, and conservation groups. Acting Head of Communications at South African National Parks (SANParks), Paul Daphne, said, “World Rhino Day is an opportunity to highlight the efforts being made to fight the scourge of rhino poaching around the world and to debunk the myths and reduce the demand for rhino horn.”
Rhino Africa joined up with the Skydive for Rhinos fundraiser for a special World Rhino Day jump. Photo courtesy of Rhino Africa.
Skydive for Rhinos is an African Conservation Trust (ACT) initiative with the objective of raising R10 Million for on-the-ground, verifiable Rhino conservation and anti-poaching efforts in South Africa.
Another popular event in South Africa was the Rhino Run.
The Rhino Run was a huge success, with all 5 runs going off well around South Africa on Saturday. We had complete weather extremes, from pouring rain in Gauteng, to light rain in Cape Town and PE and Durban, to blistering heat (32C in the shade) in Mpumalanga, but a great time was had by all. We had somewhere between around 1700 runners in total country wide.
Meanwhile in Namibia, Sue Wagner from Save the Rhino Trust reports that World Rhino Day was “Amazing!”
I have been blown away by the phenomenal support of local people and businesses. Close to 30 different businesses gave us gift vouchers and prizes for our event and many were also represented at the function. In short, I would say, a successful SRT event that raised immeasurable awareness on World Rhino Day as well as some significant funding.
Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia held an event that raised immeasurable awareness on World Rhino Day as well as significant funding. Photo courtesy of Save the Rhino Trust.
Kids from three schools — The International School of Walvis Bay, Private School Swakopmund and Namib Primary — took to the streets of Swakop, wearing masks and carrying posters and, in just over two hours, raised close on to N$ 6000 (US $728)!
Rhino Travels and Rhino Media & Communication in Guwahati, Assam, India, hosted a thought provoking presentation on the conservation of Rhinoceros in the different parts of the world: Current Challenges in Conservation of Rhinos in Rhino Range Countries.
A thought-provoking presentation on rhino conservation was given in Assam, India, by Dr. Bibhab Talukdar on World Rhino Day 2012.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya hosted an entire “rhino week” and provided local residents a chance to get into the conservancy for free and see rhinos. On World Rhino Day, Ol Pejeta partnered with Laikipia Wildlife Forum to host a cycling with the rhino competition to raise awareness in Laikipia.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya partnered with Laikipia Wildlife Forum host a World Rhino Day cycling event to raise awareness in Laikipia.
There was a huge turnout with over 100 participants cycling. Children also had a painting competition depicting rhinos and different messages.
Also in Kenya, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy took high school students from one of the Lewa sponsored schools on a game drive round the Conservancy, where they had the amazing opportunity to see a family of white rhinos lazing around by the roadside.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy took high school students from one of the Lewa sponsored schools on a game drive round the Conservancy. Photo courtesy of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
A rhino fact quiz was held, and the winner received a beautiful autographed coffee table book.
Nepal’s World Rhino Day was celebrated with grassroots coordination between the Mrigakunja Buffer Zone User Committee, Prakriti Pathsala Network Jhuwani Resource Center, and Save the Rhino Foundation Nepal.
Students in Chitwan, Nepal, participated in an art and essay competition, with rhino conservation as the theme. Photo courtesy of Suman Bhattarai, PARC Nepal.
Student drawing and essay competitions on rhino conservation were held, with “The Role of Students in Rhino Conservation” as the essay focus. In addition, an Educational Toolkit covering all five rhino species was distributed to participants. Local media coverage was extensive, and included Radio Chitwan, Beso Television, Chitwan Khabar, the Chitwan Post, the Pardarsi Daily, and the Kayakairan Daily.
At Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW, Australia, funds were raised for the International Rhino Foundation from the “Jump for Rhinos!” at the Jumping Castle on Saturday, and from Rhino Trail keeper talks, the keeper cookie sales, from a behind-the-scenes tour given to the Dubbo Field Naturalists group, and a little bucket shaking at the visitor plaza.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW, Australia, hosted a number of educational and fundraising activities on World Rhino Day. Photo courtesy of Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Funds were also raised with Munch Mobile rhino cookie sales (“Munch for Rhinos!”), donation buckets at the gift shop and ticketing desk, and Zoofari tours and framed print sales.
Rhino Internet sponsored a fundraiser at the Phoenix Zoo in honor of World Rhino Day, and sold custom designed t-shirts — with all proceeds going to the rhinos.
Rhino Internet sponsored a fundraiser at the Phoenix Zoo in honor of World Rhino Day, and sold custom designed t-shirts — with all proceeds going to the rhinos. Photo courtesy of Rhino Internet.
The Rhino Internet team was onsite at the Phoenix Zoo with keepers, visiting the white rhino Half-Ear, and helping to raise awareness about rhinos.
Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas, held an awareness-raising event featuring keeper talks, hands on activities, and t-shirt sales to benefit rhino conservation.
Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas, held an awareness-raising event featuring keeper talks, hands on activities, and t-shirt sales to benefit rhino conservation. Photo courtesy of Cameron Park Zoo.
Visitors also purchased raffle tickets to win a chance to meet Cameron Park Zoo’s resident rhinos, Babe and Jabba!
WWF, AWF, TRAFFIC and WildAid teamed up for an informative Google+ Hang Out on the Monday following World Rhino Day — here’s where you can view a video of the Rhino Hang Out on Google+.Julian Rademeyer revealed the cover and title of his upcoming book. Photo courtesy of Julian Rademeyer.
In addition to the World Rhino Day events noted above:
Investigative journalist Julian Rademeyer announced the title of his upcoming book, and posted a sneak peek of the cover.
At Zoo Basel in Switzerland, a special information booth was set up to call attention to the urgent need to protect rhinoceroses. Zoo Basel uses a portion of proceeds from admissions to support an in situ project in India.
Federal Air placed a World Rhino Day badge on its website
Edinburgh Zoo held a number of special rhino activities for kids, including coloring, making a rhino mask, and being a “rhino ranger” to identify either Bertus or Samir, the Zoo’s greater one-horned rhinos.
Please join rhino supporters around the globe for World Rhino Day 2013! In the meantime, check out additional photos and events on the World Rhino Day Facebook page!
Continuing the battleThe Happy Readers program in Zimbabwe utilized rhino education materials to help children learn to read English. Photo courtesy of Emma O’Beirne.
The battle to protect rhinos from rhino horn syndicates, wildlife traffickers, and corrupt elements continues. South Africa’s rhino death toll for 2012 reached 381 two weeks ago, with some sources claiming that the figure is now closer to 400.
The Horns and Heroes Project will celebrate World Rhino Day with an art show and auction at Sip in downtown Orlando, featuring live music and original work from more than three dozen local artists.
The Horns and Heroes event begins at 8 p.m. at Sip, located at 724 Virginia Drive, Orlando. Proceeds will benefit the International Rhino Foundation.
The participating painters, tattoo artists, sculptors, graffiti artists, illustrators, photographers and special-effects artists have embellished oversized sculptural representations of a rhino horn, each in their own unique style. These sculptures will be on display for one night only, and visitors can bid during the silent or live auctions.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the International Rhino Foundation, which operates programs in Asia and Africa to protect threatened rhino populations and funds research on captive rhinos to improve the long-term survival of the planet’s rhino species.
“By supporting the International Rhino Foundation, The Horns and Heroes Project will help fund programs that help supply the courageous and dedicated rangers who risk their lives everyday to stop poaching and give rhinos a chance at survival,” said organizer Chad Harmon. “We’re displaying work from some outstanding, creative people, and we hope their art will help start a conversation about how we can help protect these species.”
A rhino keeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom who is a visual artist in his spare time, Harmon said he is organizing the art show and auction as a way to help protect a species he loves while also bringing together the local art community.
Harmon made each of the 40 horns by hand using a process known as rotational casting. The pieces are made of foam-filled resin and stand 16 inches tall and 7 inches wide.
The Horns and Heroes event begins at 8 p.m. at Sip, located at 724 Virginia Drive, Orlando.
“Batchelor Butterfly Farm World Rhino Day Dinner.”“Federal Air supports World Rhino Day 2012.”“This World Rhino Day, let us vow to protect rhinos through generations.”“Rhinos Must Live!!!”“Rhino Fan Walk and Sandcastle Contest.”“Skydive for Rhinos!”“Rooting for Rhino.”“Make a choice, be their voice.”“Run for Rhino!”“Concert for Conservation.”“Horns and Heroes.”
Rhino Internet is raising funds for the Phoenix Zoo rhinos with a commemorative World Rhino Day t-shirt.
Rhino Internet Solutions is partnering with the Phoenix Zoo to raise awareness and funds for rhinos on World Rhino Day!
Funds will be raised for the Phoenix Zoo rhinos with Rhino Internet Solutions’ commemorative World Rhino Day t-shirt, which is on sale now through September 22nd.
In 2004, Rhino Internet Solutions funded the arrival of Half-Ear, a white rhino, to the Phoenix Zoo.
Join Skydive for Rhinos in Cape Town for World Rhino Day!
On the weekend of World Rhino Day (22 September), Skydive for Rhinos hits Cape Town.
SABC Morning Live have will be conducting their entire Saturday (World Rhino Day) show from the Skydive for Rhinos event and presenter Vaylen Kirtley will be skydiving for rhinos. There will be a pre-event broadcast on Friday (21 September) to showcase what everyone who participated in the Rustenburg, KZN and Port Elizabeth events have done for South Africa’s rhinos.
Ordinary South Africans from 16 to 77 years of age have come forward and are making a statement with Skydiving for Rhinos!
What’s it like to Skydive for Rhinos? Check out the video:
Check out what people in Africa are doing for World Rhino Day! Join them if you can!
Kenya:
The Laikipia Wildlife Forum has planned a “Save Our Rhinos Cycling Competition” and World Rhino Day celebration, which will kick of at 7:30 AM on 22 September. The event will benefit Laikipia rhino sanctuaries, such as the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
In celebration of Rhino Week leading up to the Big Day, Ol Pejeta Conservancy has waived entrance fees for 5 days giving local residents, many of whom have never seen rhinos, a chance to visit the conservancy and see their own heritage.
Save the Rhino Trust plans to raise awareness with presentations, posters, and media announcements.
Zimbabwe:
A parade followed by an address by the Minister of Environment and various entertainment and music will take place at Africa Unity Square, in Harare. The event is organized by the National Parks of Zimbabwe, joined by Save Valley Conservancy, Tikki Hywood Foundation, Environment Africa, Imire Game Park, and RIFA.
Imire’s World Rhino Day events begin on Friday! Imire will be running an adult soccer and netball tournament for teams in the Imire and Wedza area. As well as raising awareness of World Rhino Day in the rural areas, the tournament is to further build relationships within the local community as well as teach the players about the work we do, help them recognise the need for conservation areas like Imire and show them how working together can benefit their communities.
Click here to see World Rhino Day events taking place in South Africa!
Hosting your own World Rhino Day event? Click here to add it to the official World Rhino Day event map!
