The outcome of the ANCs long-awaited KwaZulu-Natal conference was a win for the Thuma Mina crowd. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
The Wildlands Conservation Trust raises funds and awareness for anti-poaching work with the Rhino Parade, a similar concept to the Cow Parade.
Celebrities, organisations and corporates adopt and decorate life-size rhino sculptures. Cricketer Shaun Pollock designed a green and gold rhino with the words “I hope my grandchildren will see a live rhino”.
Musician Ray Phiri’s colourful rhino proclaims: “This is your story, my story, our story… the unfinished story.”
Other celebrities who have joined the campaign include Freshlyground, Pat Lambie, Gary Player, Chad le Clos and Sibusiso Vilane.
Launched in 2011, there are already 14 rhino sculptures dotted across South Africa and two more will be unveiled this year, says Lauren Laing, marketing manager at Wildlands.
The biggest donor to the campaign has been King Shaka International Airport, which showcased three sculptures in honour of field rangers.
The resin rhinos are made by sculptors Peter Hall and the Goodwin Foundry. The parade is based on the concept that originated in Switzerland in 1998 and has seen lavishly painted cow sculptures displayed in public places around the world to raise funds for worthy causes.
The R850 000 raised by the Rhino Parade so far has been donated to various rhino projects, from tracking devices to aerial surveillance of protected game reserves and supporting programmes that assist with the prosecution of syndicates implicated in poaching.