Zimbabwe’s rhinos desperately need your help!
As Zimbabwe's economy has collapsed, commercial rhino poaching is increasing dramatically and rhino population gains are being eroded. A real crisis now exists: one that will have long-term consequences.
Save the Rhino International, in partnership with International Rhino Foundation, has launched an appeal in order to increase awareness of the threats facing Zimbabwe's rhinos and to raise much-needed funds.
Poaching of both black and white rhinos in Zimbabwe has more than doubled in the last year.
The rhinos are targeted by organised and armed poaching gangs for their horn, which is then sold on the black market. Over 100 Critically Endangered black rhinos have been killed by poachers in the Lowveld since 2000: 40 of these in 2008 alone, 18 black rhinos so far in 2009. One of the many side-effects of this increase in poaching has been the rise in the number of orphaned, and sometimes injured, rhino calves that must be treated and rehabilitated. Still not convinced? see the FAQs at the bottom of the page for more information.
What you can do for Zimbabwe’s rhinos
Act now and donate to the Zimbabwe Rhino Crisis Appeal
We urgently need your help. The Lowveld Rhino Trust is working to save Zimbabwe’s rhinos from poachers by translocating rhinos from high-risk areas to smaller, well-protected locations; treating rhinos with snare and shot wounds and returning them to the wild; rehabilitating injured orphaned rhino calves; helping authorities track, apprehend and prosecute poachers; and intensively tracking and monitoring rhinos to ensure their safety.
All of these operations require vital funds, so please give whatever you can.
Below are examples of how your money could be used, you can donate by clicking on the donate buttons or by others methods described below.
£6.75 feeds one young rhino orphan for a day
Four-month-old Millie was rescued from beside the carcass of her dead mother, killed by cyanide when poachers poisoned a natural water hole. |
£17 provides the rhino rangers with patrol rations and basics for a month
This includes - mealie meal, sugar beans, cooking oil, salt, sugar, tea, soap; vital basics when the team are working long hours in often-dangerous situations. |
£26 feeds five hungry calves milk, browse and cubes for a day
Here are Millie and Sassy fighting for their milk. With fewer than 460 black rhinos left in Zimbabwe, each orphan is precious.
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£67 enables resources for when a crucial rhino sighting is required
"Crucial" sightings are of rhinos that have taken even more effort to find than usual, perhaps new-born calves that haven’t yet been recorded, or injured rhinos that need veterinary treatment. |
Online – You can either donate through our Justgiving appeal page by clicking the donate buttons above.
Or donate from our website select 'Crisis Zimbabwe' from the list of projects on the donations page.
Telephone - Call 020 7357 7474 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 020 7357 7474 in normal office hours to make a donation via debit/credit card.
Post - Send a cheque made out to “Save the Rhino” with “Crisis Zimbabwe” written on the back, to Save the Rhino, 16 Winchester Walk, London SE1 9AQ.
Zimbabwe’s rhinos are not yet a lost cause. Please do what you can before it’s too late.
Follow the updates from the field
We will continue to provide regular updates for the next month from the field staff of the Lowveld Rhino Trust. The updates will include the current struggles and successes as they work to rescue and treat rhinos and rhino orphans and to try to catch the poachers and prevent further poaching incidents. The heroic staff continue to work under incredibly difficult conditions to save Zimbabwe’s rhinos. To follow the updates please click the options on the left-hand-side. |