So yes I’m a genius. 

This is something I’m told day in and day out. But in my humility I humbly deny this accolade, I quietly stand aside and proclaim my simplicity. Ok that part was the biggest lie ever. Humility may not be one of my strong points. 

Where does this sudden return to writing come from?

Ceratotherium Simum (White rhinoceros) a majestic beast native to the African plains. An animal few have had the privilege of seeing in its natural habitat and sadly fewer and fewer will ever have the chance to stand in wonder and awe watching as they stride by, proud and fearless in their domain. 

Why? Because they are fast being poached to extinction. Notice the word poached and not hunted. If any animals are hunted it’s for the enrichment of the community they are found in, for the strengthening of the herd or for the funding required to protect and encourage the keeping of Africas diverse wildlife. 

Poaching on the other hand is the barbaric slaughter of these same animals for the enrichment and greed of individual people and organized crime. The only barrier to the extinction of many of Africas most endangered and magnificent beasts is in fact hunting. 

But there is another way, not an alternative way, just a way that we that cannot or will not hunt can help. And it’s painless. Not all can be so privileged but those usually doing the screaming and shouting about saving the animals in question are usually the more well off amongst us with plenty of time on their hands. 

It’s to you I target my vitriol today. The Sandton soccer moms, the bored housewives, and yes you are the ones with the biggest mouth’s when it comes to complaining and telling everyone else how the world needs saving, without actually raising a finger to do anything about it. (Karen). But there is something every single one of us can do, go and see as many of these fine animals in the wild as you possibly can. 

Non hunters can do their part in conservation simply by visiting the reserves they are protected on. Not all can afford an overnight visit but a day trip also helps pay the bills. It costs an enormous amount of money to protect an animal so valuable (especially the rhino horn) but all animals cost a fortune to protect and breed. And at this time it seems a rather large percentage of this cost is being borne by the few that can and do hunt. 

This story is partly brought on by a rhinoceros I once met at a friend’s wedding, a most beautiful animal, the rhino I mean, sadly less than one month later this truly awesome animal, the very one pictured below, was poached for its horn. The result of that was the game farmer could not take the loss of an animal he genuinely loved and the bull to his herd that he sold all the rest of the herd as he knows he couldn’t afford to offer them the protection they so desperately needed. So not only was this most gorgeous of our heritage murdered for no good reason but the man willing to sacrifice his time and money to the breeding them could no longer face the pain of their loss. My aren’t these game farmers/wardens just the most heartless people ever. 

In conclusion:

If you want to save a rhino, visit one, don’t whine about some hunter shooting an animal in the name of conservation. Support wildlife by supporting the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting what we have left. Those are the game farm owners and the people spending large amounts of money hunting for the preservation of all animals.