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Thula Thula Game Reserve Linking Art and Conservation
Thula Thula Game Reserve Linking Art and Conservation
The Sanctuary will require an additional 35km of electric fencing, and will create a shelter for orphan rhinos. Franoise has been very busy planning fundraising dinners in London and has teamed up with local wildlife artists who donate their artwork, which she sells from her nature reserve, and the funds go towards making the rhino sanctuary a reality.
Ian van Zyl is a world-renowned artist who resides in Umhlanga. Ian has been a keen conservationist for many years. As an artist he divides his time between his 'Protest paintings', which are geared towards conservation and 'Fine Art', which enables him to put bread on the table.
The Bugle spoke to Ian at Thula Thula, where he has just delivered more paintings for sale, "When I discovered the Thula Thula Rhino fund I immediately wanted to get involved, we all have to get involved when it comes to saving our wildlife." Ian is an avid supporter of the SPCA, Animal Anti-Cruelty and the Wildlands Conservation Trust.
"My most favourite subjects to paint are birds." Ian continues, "When we look around, birds are the only ones that are free, everything else is behind a fence. The future of our wildlife is bleak because there are too many of us, if we don't do something about it our rhinos could be extinct within eight years."
Faced with the grim reality and possible rhino poaching Franoise was forced to add extreme security measures. She has hired 24/7 security guards who follow the rhinos day and night to ensure that no harm is done to them.
Franoise is also introducing Rhino Horn Infusion Treatment on the rhino horn. This treatment effectively poisons the horn and includes an indelible dye that saturates the horn and cannot be removed. She also uses DNA sampling and microchip tracking technology.
The generous donations that are collected by Franoise have been helping to reinforce the anti poaching security team to buy new equipment, such as surveillance cameras and weapons and to plan the horn treatment for the two orphan rhinos of Thula Thula - Thabo and Ntombi.
If you would like to get involved with Thula Thula Conservation projects please do not hesitate to contact Franoise on francoise@thula-thula.co.za or visit the website https://www.thulathula.com