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Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Black Rhino loose on the Donkin Reserve

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A special, once in a lifetime sight awaits visitors to the Donkin Reserve in Port Elizabeth at lunchtime on Wednesday!

In an attempt to raise awareness about the plight of the rhino, Addo Elephant National Park’s Honorary Rangers will have a life-sized replica of a black rhino on display at the city’s iconic landmark between 1PM and 2PM. Honorary Rangers Chairperson, Clive Gibson, says they hope to raise some funds towards their anti-rhino poaching campaign at the same time.

The HR’s will also have with them one of a limited edition of crocheted model rhino’s, donated to them by Anne-Marie Kuhne, who bought and imported the pattern from the United States The miniature creation is named “Shibula” after a black rhino with an interesting history, who still resides in Addo Elephant National Park.

Shibula was caught in Namibia and made her way to a Portugal zoo in the late 1980s. The director of conservation services at the time, Anthony Hall Martin, came across her in this zoo, and immediately set about trying to get her back to the African continent. The David Shepherd Foundation, among others, assisted with funding. Shibula has had seven calves in her 30 years.

Only five of the kind have been made, making Shibula a true collector’s piece. It will be sold off in a raffle tomorrow and at the Kirkwood Wildsfees over the weekend. All funds raised will be donated to the SANParks Honorary Rangers for anti-poaching.
On Thursday, the life-sized rhino will be transported to Kirkwood, where it will spend the weekend at the Ranger’s exhibition stand at the Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees.

Anyone who’ll be in the area around the Donkin over lunchtime on Wednesday are more than welcome to pop by and take a photograph with the rhino or donate to the cause, and hear more about what the Honorary Rangers and Addo Elephant National Park are doing to conserve them.

Shibula
Shibula
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.