WHY WE'RE DOING THIS

During our internship, we were connected to and have been working alongside WILDTRUST, an organization based in South Africa. WILDTRUST aims to conserve the unique ecosystem and culture of South Africa. In the execution of this goal, WILDTRUST created WILDLANDS, WILDOCEANS, and WILDENTERPRISE. 

WILDLANDS co-manages Somkhanda Community Game Reserve, a wildlife reserve in South Africa. However, Somkhanda has been heavily impacted by COVID-19, resulting in a significant loss of income. Due to this, many of their conservation projects have been halted from decreased funding. 

We decided to create this fundraiser to help fund a few of the conservation projects for the rhino living on the reserve. Conservation projects include the monitoring, security, and dehorning of rhinos, which greatly impact the survival of the species in Somkhanda. Dehorning rhino is especially important, because by filing down their horn, poachers do not have anything to take. In fact, since Somkhanda began dehorning the rhinos, poaching went down by 90%. However, dehorning is extremely expensive, and needs to be redone every few years, (rhino horns are constantly growing, like fingernails!), requiring rangers, experienced vets, and trackers to dehorn. The money raised from this fundraiser will go directly to Somkhanda Community Game Reserve and its efforts in rhino conservation. 

We aim to raise about $1,500 (which is equal to about 25,000 South African rand), but it would be incredible if we raised more than that! So will you join us in supporting rhino conservation in Somkhanda? 

Any donation is accepted and highly appreciated!