Introduction from Bear Grylls
Opening and closing words William Travers OBE and Virginia McKenna OBE
Join Dr William Fowlds on 18 September as he hosts an inspirational lecture at the Royal Geographical Society, London, highlighting the plight of the rhino and his mission to protect these iconic creatures of South Africa and to raise funds for Tusk Trust and Born Free Foundation.
South Africa has been gripped by a massive surge in rhino poaching in recent years. In 2007, 13 rhinos were poached. In 2013 it estimated that 900 rhinos will be poached with almost three rhinos being killed every day.
Rhinos are poached for their horns which, according to some South East Asian countries, have healing capabilities and other medicinal uses and values. Modern science has, however, proved that the horn carries absolutely no medicinal value and is, in fact, made up of the same protein, keratin, which is found in human fingernails. Yet the demand for the product continues to increase and the situation is becoming more critical by the day.
Current international debates aimed at bringing an end to poaching include; legalising the rhino horn trade, dehorning rhinos, stricter law enforcement, decreasing demand through bans (it’s illegal to trade in rhino horn through rules stipulated by CITES) or education, and an improved consolidated and collaborative approach by all stakeholders,
Dr Fowlds is a South African veterinarian and star of ITV1’s Safari Vet School. His day-to-day job includes darting lions, elephants and antelopes but last year he was called out to a harrowing situation, unlike anything he’d encountered before. Overnight, three rhinos had been illegally darted using veterinary drugs and the poachers had brutally removed bone, skin and horn with either machetes or axes, leaving the rhinos for dead.
One rhino had in fact already died from its injuries but Themba, a male, and Thandi, a female were still alive when they were discovered the next morning. So began a gruelling, heartrending week of trying to save these two mutilated animals. Decisions had to be made whether to euthanise them straight away or give them a chance. Will was determined to try to save these rhinos. This is his story.
Bear Grylls said, â€œAs the world’s population explodes, the wildlife on all continents is affected and their numbers are dwindling. I have chosen to support the rhino in Africa as one such species as a symbol of all animals in trouble around the world. Will Fowlds’s story should be heard by all, his account of the tragic consequences of poaching and the hope that he holds for the future in his crusade to save the survivors of these criminal acts.”
William Travers OBE, CEO of Born Free Foundation, an international wildlife charity devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare, said, â€œThere are possibly 30,000 wild rhino in Africa. As one of the continent’s most iconic species, it’s impossible to imagine their extinction. But it could happen. The Northern White Rhino is all but gone. The Western sub-species of the Black Rhino is no more. Now a wave of poaching is sweeping the creatures’ last strongholds including South Africa and Kenya, fuelled by demand from South East Asia for spurious, bogus medicinal products which apparently cure everything from cancer to hangovers.”
The evening is hosted by Mantis, a family run collection of award winning, privately owned, five star properties around the world, and their educational arm, Worldwide Experience, whose roots are based in conservation and who are passionate about preserving and celebrating Africa’s wild nature.
Following the lecture there will be a short auction, to raise funds for leading conservation charities TUSK TRUST and the Born Free Foundation, with lots including a luxury Mantis holiday.
The charities will use the money to continue raising awareness for the poaching crisis and to help curb these attacks.
Tickets for the event are £20 per person and include a drinks reception before the lecture.
To purchase tickets please visit http://rhinolecture.eventbrite.co.uk