THE RHINO PoachiNg cRisis
The poaching of Rhinos for their horns has reached unprecedented levels. In just a decade, an estimated more than 7,500 African rhinos have been lost to poaching. 1028 rhinos killed in South Africa alone during 2017 equates to nearly three rhinos killed every day.
These majestic animals are slaughtered daily in the belief that the horn can cure ailments. Composed predominantly of keratin, the same type of protein found in hair and fingernails the horn holds no medicinal value whatsoever.
The rarity of rhinos today and the corresponding intermittent availability of rhino horn serves to drive the price of rhino horn higher and higher, increasing pressure on dwindling rhino populations. Poachers are now being supplied by international criminal gangs with sophisticated equipment to track and kill rhinos.
The killing of these noble animals leaves countless baby rhino orphaned each year and without intervention they too will die.
THe RHINO ORPHANAGe
Situated in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, the Rhino Orphanage, a non-profit organization, is the worlds first rhino orphanage.
Headed up by Arrie Van Deventer and his amazing team, the orphanage is a specialist, dedicated, non-commercial centre that cares for orphaned and injured baby rhinos with the only aim of releasing them back into the wild.
It was created as the result of a lack of a specialized place for rearing baby rhinos who have been orphaned as a consequence of the current poaching crisis which feeds the illegal trade in horns.
The Rhino Spirit Company is proud to be affiliated to The Rhino Orphanage and has pledged to donate 20% of profits to this worthy cause.
Visit www.therhinoorphanage.co.za for more information.
