Zoo marches for rhinos

Joburg Zoo staff protested against rhino poaching, a problem that is increasing and has endangered the species. The aim was to raise awareness.
DEDICATED zoo staff made their feelings about rhino poaching be known when they left their jobs to march in an attempt to raise awareness about the killing of the endangered species.

Interested party: Phila watches marchers against rhino poachingInterested party: Phila watches as marchers walk past his enclosureFirst marching around the zoo, they sang and chanted “No to rhino poaching”. The march, held on 11 November, snaked through the reserve to the enclosure of Phila, the black rhino, where marchers cheered for its survival.

From there they made their way to the Jan Smuts Avenue entrance of the zoo, where they made sure that passing motorists on the busy thoroughfare noticed. Many hooted and waved to show their support.

To drive their message home, zoo staff carried placards bearing messages like “Stop rhino poaching”, “No miracle muti from rhinos”, “Chemo cures cancer not rhino” and “Rhino poaching kills not cures”.

Louise Gordon, the zoo’s executive manager of marketing and education, addressed the staff before the march. She said they were raising awareness of the public about rhino poaching. “The Joburg Zoo will not hurt our rhinos,” she added.

After the march staff gathered for a presentation on Phila, which survived poachers in the wild and was brought to the zoo to recover.

Poaching
Alice Masombuka, the zoo’s keeper of pachyderms, gave a slide show presentation and explained how rhinos were poached.
A graph tracked the rise in poaching in South Africa over the past 10 years. “In 2000, only seven rhinos were killed; and this year 344 have been killed, with the last incident on 8 November in Eastern Cape,” said Masombuka.

Poachers were so organised that they used equipment to make the hunting much easier. “They have contacts everywhere,” she added.

Members of the public make their point clear: No poaching of rhinos!Members of the public make their point clear: Don't kill rhinos!Masombuka retold the story of Phila. Staff listened attentively, although they already knew the tale. Phila was shot nine times by poachers after its horn at Modimolle in Limpopo. It sustained severe wounds and was recovering.

The rhino was responding positively to treatment, Masombuka said, and there had been an improvement in its health, with the horn growing back.

Letta Madlala, the zoo’s brand and communications manager, was one of the marchers. She said zoo staff were worried about the scourge of rhino poaching and wanted to show their unhappiness about the continued attacks on rhinos, particularly black rhinos.

The black rhino population was declining at a fast rate and staff were worried that the species would soon become extinct. It was for these reasons that they had decided to march and raise their concerns.

They were also talking to their families and friends about the negative effects of poaching. “Hopefully our message will reach far and wide and maybe we can even get through to the perpetrators,” explained Madlala.

On Sunday, 13 November, scores of citizens joined the zoo in a second, public march against rhino poaching.