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iSimangaliso celebrates World Rhino Day - My Rhino Our Future

iSimangaliso celebrates World Rhino Day - My Rhino Our Future

Date: 2015-10-02
Over 1500 people joined voices at iSimangaliso's Lake St Lucia Estuary on Tuesday 22nd September for World Rhino Day, chanting "iSimangaliso, My Rhino Our Future".

The Department of Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Barbara Thomson presided over the event together with iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis and representatives of dozens of partner organisations, local leadership, non-government organisations, land claimants, school children, tourism business owners and media.

Zaloumis gave a brief introductions on iSimangaliso - South Africa's first World Heritage Site - likening it to a "Miss Universe" voted for by every one of the 180 member countries of UNESCO in 1999.

"iSimangaliso is a tangible example of how a Park benefits its people, and how the people benefit the Park," he said, demonstrated by the presence of hundreds of beneficiaries who welcomed the opportunity to attend the celebrations.

"As one of the most significant rhino populations on the African continent, we take our role with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as custodians of our heritage very seriously". Zaloumis paid tribute to the late Herbert Mthembu, Park Operations Director, whose idea it was to initiate the schools campaign. "Herbert said that the key to change was in the hands of our children. We knew we had to make his dream a reality," he said.

Deputy Minister Thomson, receiving signed banners from the schoolchildren, said that "the youth, as the moral, economic, political and thought leaders of tomorrow, are key in the battle that is being fought. They are the future conservation leaders and the generation that will influence the continued existence of legal and illegal wildlife markets, this contributing to a decline in the consumption, and demand for rhino horn". This critical role of young people as influencers and decision makers was a major factor in formulating the campaign to involve over 11250 learners from 75 rural schools in a Park-wide walk to raise awareness about the plight of rhino.

"We can blow the whistle on wildlife criminals!" she proclaimed. "These are our rhino, our future."