Photo credit: Save the Rhino International
Real Africa and Save the Rhino International are thrilled to announce that an expected £6,500 has been raised thanks to everyone’s generous support for the #RealRhinos campaign. Real Africa, a UK based independent safari specialist with conservation at the heart of its ethos, held the #RealRhinos campaign to raise essential funds for rhino conservation and awareness of the threats facing rhinos in the wild. The number of African rhinos illegally killed by poachers has increased for the sixth year in a row with at least 1,338 rhinos poached across Africa in 2015.
50% of money raised from the #RealRhinos campaign will go towards the anti-poaching Rhino Dog Squad working to protect black and white rhino in Kenya and the other 50% of money raised will go to Save the Rhino’s core fund. The core fund enables Save the Rhino International to direct donations to where they are most needed. Made up of handler and dog teams, the Rhino Dog Squad plays a vital role in protecting rhinos across four wildlife conservancies in Kenya; Ol Jogi, Ol Pejeta, Lewa and Borana Conservancies. The Rhino Dog Squad also protects other endangered wildlife and has helped tackle crime in local communities, using their strong sense of smell and tracking skills to find lost children and locate stolen goods.
The Rhino Dog Squad, photo credit: Save the Rhino International
An exciting element of the #RealRhinos campaign was the #RealRhinos raffle, which raised a fantastic £3,028.68 for Save the Rhino International. The #RealRhinos raffle offered one lucky winner a safari prize for two including all flights and transfers and stays at two luxurious safari lodges – Borana on the private Borana Conservancy and the Emakoko in Nairobi National Park. A number of other fantastic prizes were available and Real Africa is delighted to announce the lucky winners of the #RealRhinos raffle, chosen at random:
| Winning ticket number | Prize |
| 7104 | 1st prize – Luxury rhino conservation for two people to Kenya |
| 9361 | 2nd prize – £500 Real Africa safari voucher and Save the Rhino T-shirt |
| 9273 | 3rd prize – £250 Real Africa safari voucher and Save the Rhino T-shirt |
| 916 | 4th prize – £250 Real Africa safari voucher and Save the Rhino T-shirt |
| 1151 | 5th prize – £250 Real Africa safari voucher and Save the Rhino T-shirt |
| 653 | 6th prize – £100 Real Africa safari voucher and Save the Rhino cap |
| 1423 | 7th prize – £100 Real Africa safari voucher and Save the Rhino cap |
| 9639 | 8th prize – £100 Real Africa safari voucher and Save the Rhino cap |
| 1399 | 9th prize – £50 Real Africa safari voucher and cuddly rhino |
| 4053 | 10th prize – £50 Real Africa safari voucher and cuddly rhino |
All the details of the #RealRhinos raffle prizes and the terms and conditions can be found here.
As part of the campaign, Real Africa also hosted the Close Encounters event in November 2016 at the Royal Geographical Society in London. It was a fun evening with explorer, writer and TV presenter and Save the Rhino Patron Benedict Allen telling tales of his close encounters with wildlife and local communities in remote areas around the world. Save the Rhino’s CEO Cathy Dean also spoke about the rangers on the ground dedicating their lives to protecting rhinos and anti-poaching dog trainer Daryll Pleasants highlighted the important role dogs are playing in rhino conservation. The evening raised over £3,000 for rhino conservation.
In addition, Real Africa has offered their clients a chance to experience conservation within their trips, from walking with the Rhino Dog Squad at Kenya’s Lewa conservancy to visiting the last three Northern white rhino remaining in the wild at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. To directly support conservation, the Real Africa Trust has donated £50 per person to Save the Rhino International for all their clients booking a ‘rhino conservation experience’. Real Africa has also sold a range of gifts, such as T-shirts, premium coffee, cuddly rhinos and solid sliver rhino pendants via their Real World Store and donated the net profit to Save the Rhino International. For example 25% from sales of the special Save the Rhino T-shirt has been donated to the #RealRhinos campaign for Save the Rhino.
Photo credit: Save the Rhino International
Real Africa and Save the Rhino International would like to thank everyone who so generously supported the #RealRhino campaign, by donating, taking part in the #RealRhinos raffle, buying rhino gifts from the Real World Store and attending the Close Encounters event. This commitment to rhino conservation will help the Rhino Dog Squad in Kenya. With the rhino poaching threat increasing, it is important that the rhino conservancies have well equipped and well-trained dog units needed to stay one step ahead of the poachers.
Note to editors
About Save the Rhino International
Save the Rhino International’s mission is to collaborate with partners to support endangered rhinos in Africa and Asia. Save the Rhino does this by the following strategies:
- Raising funds to protect and increase rhino numbers and population distribution in African and Asian range states
- Facilitating the exchange of technical support and information between rhino conservation stakeholders
- Ensuring that local communities in key rhino areas benefit from employment, capacity building, education, outreach and the sustainable use of natural resources
- Developing and delivering behaviour-change campaigns to reduce the demand for rhino horn in consumer countries
- Raising awareness throughout the world of the need for and importance of rhino conservation
To find out more please visit www.savetherhino.org (UK registered charity 1035072).