This month is all about the rhinos. With World Rhino Day around the corner on September 22nd, we’re giving these lovable horned animals all the love they deserve. The unwavering commitment towards rhino conservation is soul stirring to say the least, but one of our clients in particular takes the reigns when it comes to rhino protection and education.
The Ant Collection is run and owned by Ant and Tessa Baber in the lovely Waterberg region. It emphasises rhino conservation efforts now more than ever. Their resident rhinos hold a very special place in the lodge’s hearts and are the focus of their continuous conservation drive to protect them from poaching.
Ant’s has dealt with two rhino poaching incidents on the reserve since 2011 and quickly became aware of other poaching episodes in the Waterberg area too. They decided to act and this led to the formation of the non-profit organisation ‘Save the Waterberg Rhino’ in November 2012. It was founded by Ant and Tessa Baber, Victoria Crake and Gustav Collins. [highlight] Save the Waterberg Rhino[/highlight] has since teamed up with the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and [highlight] Stop Rhino Poaching.com[/highlight] in order to raise funds to protect rhinos in private ownership around the Waterberg Biosphere area.
Their mission statement speaks to the core poaching crisis at hand:
“The protection and conservation of rhinos in the Waterberg, through aims such as fundraising, security, awareness, social upliftment, training, and environmental education.”
Image credit: Juliet Calcott
World Rhino Day is on September 22nd and can be commemorated by raising awareness for the Save the Waterberg Rhino organisation, in conjunction with sharing The Ant Collection’s compassionate love for these magnificent animals.
To be part of the solution, [highlight] The Ant Collection[/highlight] has created a list of simple steps for their guests and general public to follow and join the conversation and movement:
- Ask for more information from your guide or host at dinner. We will happily speak to you about the issues surrounding rhino poaching.
- Add your voice. Speak to your friends and family about the issue.
- Leave a donation in our donation box in the lodge for Save the Waterberg Rhino non-profit organisation
- Become a friend of Save the Waterberg Rhino for R1,500 per year
- Visit the website www.waterbergrhino.com to see what they are doing and make a donation via our website.
- Sign up for the newsletter via the website to get updates on progress.
- “Like” the [highlight] Save the Waterberg Rhino[/highlight] page on Facebook.
It’s time to do something ourselves to help preserve our favourite grey giants. Let’s put our horns together and join the “DOT- Do one thing” Rhino Challenge cleverly created by the Save the Waterberg Rhino organisation.
Save the Waterberg Rhino challenges you to do one thing for our rhinos. You can start by going to their Facebook events page and take a look at some simple ideas to become part of the rhino solution: [highlight] https://www.facebook.com/events/450955191709081/ [/highlight]
Contact Ant’s Collection:
Web. www.waterberg.net
Email. reservations@waterberg.net
Tel. +27 83 287 2885