Julia & the Rhino www.chipembere.org

Julia and the Rhino {a story of hope for a species} The shocking problem of Rhino poaching in the world needs to be publicized far and wide, from old to young. Will the slaughter be stopped in the short term? Well that depends on what we as humans do to stop the carnage, and how well governments work together to stamp out demand. But what is for certain is that if we do nothing about the situation, we will never know if we could have made a difference. With information on the internet and social media being so accessible to all ages, the plight of the Rhino is making headlines in the minds of the young and old. None more so than for 11 year old Julia Murray from Hong Kong. Julia, faced with an imminent birthday party, decided that the perfect opportunity presented itself to do her bit for the Rhinos. Julia arranged a birthday party with a difference. All the other 11 year old friends invited helped in painting pictures furthering the plight of the Rhino. When done, each picture would then be ‘auctioned” online through social media channels like Facebook to raise funds for Julia’s Rhino fund. In preparation for the party and realizing the beneficiary of any funds raised needed to be identified, Julia’s mother contacted a Facebook friend, who has been involved in fund raising for Rhinos in South Africa, about the right beneficiary as there are so many organizations that could benefit. The recommendation was made that the funds be channelled to Chipembere Rhino Foundation on the basis that specific items be identified for which money should be used. Chipembere Rhino Foundation indicated that tracking collars were the most pressing need and that it cost approximately R10 000 to dart and collar a Rhino. The party was held, T-shirts made and the pictures painted. In an amazing feat, Julia raised R30 000.00 to help the Rhinos! A massive achievement for anyone let alone an 11 year old girl living in Hong Kong which is right in the midst of the countries which are considered end users of Rhino horn. Due to the fact that Julia’s brother is at school in the Eastern Cape, the family had planned to come to South Africa in the July holidays to visit him. What an ideal opportunity to make something really special happen. Could Julia put her own collars on the Rhinos? Brent Cook and Dr William Fowlds of Chipembere Rhino Foundation were approached to see if this could become a reality. After some careful planning and discussion, it was agreed that Julia could collar her Rhinos. What an experience awaited. So, on a cool winters morning in the Eastern Cape, Julia accompanied by her mother and brother, rose early to be at the reserve where the Rhinos identified for the collars where located. Dr William Fowlds did the briefing to them along with the international vet students attending one of the famous Vets Safaris he was running on the reserve. The briefing delivered, the chopper was fired up to go find and dart the Rhinos. Julia took up her position as co-pilot next to the pilot and Dr Fowlds in the back seat ready to dart. Flying a chopper when trying to dart an animal is no easy task. There is no such thing as “straight and level”. It is adrenalin pumping stuff and there needs to be an understanding between pilot and vet. Dr Fowlds has done this many times before and in no time the first Rhino was darted and the immobilizing drugs started to take effect. Once down the Rhino was joined by the ground crew, to help reduce the Rhino’s stress levels a blind fold was secured and earplugs were put in the ears. Step forward Julia... Julia approached the immobilized Rhino, and the poignant moment of her touching the horn before anything else, is captured on camera. While the vet students, under the guidance of Dr Fowlds, did the various other procedures on the Rhino, Julia, assisted by Brent Cook from Chipembere Rhino Foundation, carefully fitted a tracking collar to the hind leg of the Rhino. Huge moment! Julia, holding offcuts of the collar as mementos, was then able to spend time around the Rhino chatting to Dr Fowlds and Brent about this amazing animal and its unique characteristics. These are times when a young individual’s life can be influenced forever and the Rhino’s gain a friend for life. The same process was followed for a second Rhino and with time running out, Julia looked on at her successfully collared Rhinos. "Being up close to these huge animals was a humbling experience. Spending time with these amazing people, who do so much to care for animals, really inspires me to continue raising awareness and money for rhinos. I hope we can make a difference so that my children too, can experience these wonderful, almost prehistoric beasts. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this an unforgettable experience for me. " - Julia Murray Julia has made a small, but real difference in the global fight to keep Rhinos from extinction (caused by the unfounded belief that the horn has medicinal value). She is a great inspiration for young and old and you never know, maybe a conservationist in the making. Julia will go back to Hong Kong wiser and better equipped to tell her circle of friends about her Rhinos, and our struggle to protect this magnificent animal. With many thanks to Peter Allanson, William Fowlds, Bloss Murray and Stuart Barr for their involvement in this wonderful story. Thank you Julia! CHIPEMBERE RHINO FOUNDATION BRENT COOK 082 779 9575 WWW.CHIPEMBERE.ORG

Ride for Rhino

Feel up to a real Challenge and help raise funds for African Conservation? Get involved with Challenge4aCause and support rhino anti poaching.

We’d like to invite you to support a once in a lifetime mountain biking challenge that aims at changing the lives of many threatened and endangered African animals, where 20 cyclists will brave 4 days of 50km per day through the Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana.

Challenge4aCause is a fund raising initiative that supports the conservation of Africa’s endangered animal species. All funds raised in the Mashatu Challenge will go to the Wildlife ACT Fund and the Chipembere Rhino Foundation.

Cycle Mashatu Challenge4aCause Dates:
22 – 26 Aug 2011
4 days, 5 nights
50 km per day
20 cyclists

Details of the events can be found on the Challenge4aCause Facebook page.

All funds raised will be split between 2 organisations:

Chipembere Rhino Foundation
Is a privately run, non-profit organisation committed to protecting and conserving Africa’s rhino. The Foundation was established in November 2010 after the Amakhala Game Reserve lost 2 rhinos in one week to poaching. Both were breeding bulls and thus it was a devastating blow. Funds raised by the challenge will go towards anti-poaching efforts and rhino conservation initiatives in the Eastern Cape and beyond.

Wildlife ACT Fund
The Wildlife ACT Fund is a non profit company and requires funds for the development of new anti-poaching technologies, the implementation of long-term monitoring programs for threatened and endangered species, as well as community outreach initiatives.

How Can You Help?

Join the fight to save the Rhino and other animals from extinction and stand a chance to win a dream island holiday.
Support Challenge4aCause as we cycle through the Mashatu Reserve in Botswana to raise funds for the plight of endangered animals in South Africa and stand a chance to win:

1st Prize:
5 night stay for two at Belle Mare Plage Mauritius (dinner bed & breakfast) incl all flights and transfers ex JHB.

2nd Prize:
2 night stay at Hlosi Lodge on Amakhala Game Reserve for a family of 4 (all meals, teas and game drives included).

3rd Prize:
2 night stay at Robberg Beach Lodge Plettenberg Bay for a family of four (bed & breakfast).

4th Prize:
A Canon digital camera

The prize draw takes place on the 2nd September 2011 and by buying a ticket for R100,not only are you entering the draw but you are making a donation to a very worthy cause! Buy 5 tickets (1 book) and you automatically get the 6th ticket for free!


Mashatu, ‘Land of Giants’ takes its name from the locally-sacrosanct Mashatu tree and the giants that roam its terrain. As one of the largest private game reserve in southern Africa, Mashatu is, at 25 000 hectares, a fitting setting for the world’s largest land mammal - the elephant. It is a huge wilderness area in eastern Botswana at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers.

Mashatu Game Reserve is where herds of elephant, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra have roamed the dramatic landscape for thousands of years. Ancient elephant paths provide the perfect single track to cycle which interlace a mosaic of savannah, forest, rocky outcrops and wooded floodplains.