"Save the Rhinos", the EAZA Rhino Campaign 2005/6

Background
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) launched its fifth conservation campaign, "Save the Rhinos, the EAZA Rhino Campaign 2005/6" on 7 September 2005. The official launch took place at the annual EAZA conference in Bath, UK. At the conference, some 500 representatives from more than 100 European member zoos and aquaria met to exchange news and knowledge and to learn about the Save the Rhinos Campaign. During the one-year Campaign period, 128 out of the 292 member institutions of EAZA organise a range of special activities that focus on rhinos to raise public awareness and collect much-needed funds for rhino conservation projects.

Through the Save the Rhinos Campaign, supported by Save the Rhino International (SRI), EAZA has two major objectives; firstly to raise international awareness of the threats rhino face and to promote protection of these endangered animals and, secondly, to raise money which will directly support 13 selected rhino conservation projects in the wild in Asia and Africa. Some 125 million people visit zoos and aquaria in Europe annually.

Early results
"Save the Rhinos" ended with an official closing session at the EAZA Annual Conference in Madrid on 4 October 2006.

During this closing session, a preliminary fundraising result of €515,842.81 was announced, well exceeding the original target of €350,000. Special awards were handed out to participants that made an exceptional contribution to the education target of the Campaign. Almost all of the grants to the 13 beneficiary projects have been sent out (watch this space for reports back from the field projects in due course) and another eight projects on the waiting list will also beneft.

The success of former EAZA Conservation Campaigns have led to an increase in interest of NGOs and zoos outside Europe to support, contribute to, or participate in them. North American zoos, for example, have joined EAZA in the Save the Rhinos Campaign.

For more information, please visit the EAZA website:
www.eaza.net