Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene has launched a call to declare ‘rhino horn NOT cool!’ and her #chasingzero initiative, looks to stop the atrocity of wildlife poaching and educate people about conservation and preservation.
- The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa is chasing the eradication of wildlife poaching.
- Her passion for protecting Africa’s wildlife is precisely why the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation started the #chasingzero initiative.
- With your donation to the cause, you stand a chance to win two tickets to the Monaco 2022 F1 Grand Prix including flights and accommodation, and other exciting prizes.
- Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.
During her recent visit to KwaZulu-Natal, HSH Princess Charlene was involved with various conservation operations such as rhino monitoring and tracking, deployment with the Anti-Poaching Unit, educational wildlife photography sessions, and a White Rhino dart and dehorning exercise, to learn more about this unique species that’s been on Earth for over 50-million years, and the extreme efforts being taken to save the rhino from extinction.
Since the rhino poaching crisis began in 2008, thousands of African rhinos have been killed for their horn. South Africa’s rhino populations have plummeted in the past decade; in total, some 10’000 rhinos have been brutally slaughtered, with the famed Kruger National Park’s rhino population falling by as much as 70%.
Private and community-owned game reserves are also affected by the unrelenting pressure of poaching. Other African countries affected include Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Namibia.
Despite a global ban on the trade, historically a rhino is killed for its horn every 9-12 hours in South Africa. The population is fast reaching the tipping point, where losses due to poaching may exceed births. The Foundation wants to do all it can to protect rhinos and other endangered species and is thrilled to announce that it is getting behind Princess Charlene to support rhino preservation, in partnership with the Thanda Foundation Trust.
By protecting the rhinos, we’re conserving their habitat, which is beneficial for both people and wildlife, supporting our local communities, and ensuring a legacy for future generations. The rhinos cannot speak for themselves, so we must speak on their behalf.
// Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco
And it’s not just the rhinos. Since 2014, nearly 300 elephants have been killed in South Africa, wild dogs are the most endangered carnivore in Southern Africa, and almost 30% of South Africa’s sharks and rays are on their way to becoming extinct.
The #chasingzero initiative is about speaking out against the atrocity of wildlife poaching and doing something about it before it’s too late.
If we are to save these incredible animals from extinction, we have to do something. We cannot afford to lose anymore.
// Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco
Therefore, the Foundation is raising funds to protect Africa’s wildlife and educate people about wildlife conservation and preservation. Additionally, anyone who donates to #chasingzero stands a chance to win two tickets to the Monaco 2022 F1 GrandPrix, and other exciting prizes.
In a way, our wildlife are like children – they are innocent, helpless. We protect our children from drowning, and we must protect our wildlife from poachers. I want to be able to tell my children the world did all it could to save the rhino and other endangered species–and we succeeded.
// Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco
If you are not in a position to contribute financially, you can help the Foundation spread the message by using the hashtags, #chasingzero, #rhinohornnotcool. If we work together, we can chase zero when it comes to wildlife poaching.
There will always be people in the world who take what is not theirs. But as long as there are people who try to stop them, our rhinos and wildlife have a future.
// Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco
Stand a chance to WIN with The Sandton Times.
Advertise on The Sandton Times today!
Head back to The Sandton Times Home Page for more stories.
