Today being 21 September, I have cycled 25.5km in one hour and three-quarters which is an average speed of a little short of 15kmh - this is for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, to do my bit to raise vital funds for anti-poaching rangers in southern Africa. Many thanks to those of you who have already sponsored me for this - over $800 raised to date but if you haven't contributed yet, it is not too late - please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Save the Rhino Foundation to help wildlife conservation in Africa.  I am not as young as the rangers and I cannot run 21km with a 20kg pack and rifle in tropical Zimbabwe as they will, but I have done 3 x 7km laps of Herdsman Lake on my pushbike - it was a Challenge for me.

https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/2024wildliferangerridejohnc/

or Direct Deposit into Save the Rhino Foundation BSB 066113,acct 10044343, with WRC JC and your name.

On that day more than 100 ranger teams are all running a 21 km half marathon to raise funds for the  World Ranger Challenge, a TUSK Trust initiative, Royal patron, Prince William, and their main sponsor, Scheinberg Relief Fund, have already committed many millions to African rangers. In return, all beneficiary projects are being asked to further raise some funds, which will be matched by Scheinberg Fund.  Hence, my ride.

I have recently returned from a visit with Save the Rhino Foundation to a conservancy in south-eastern Zimbabwe which is home to over 400 black and white rhinos as well as a wide spectrum of African wildlife.  Poaching remains a major threat to many species there but particularly it nearly wiped out rhinos before anti-poaching measures were strengthened over the last decade or so.  Save the Rhino Foundation provides substantial funding for the anti-poaching team in this conservancy where rangers are trained in a commando-style para-military elite to spend days and nights sleeping rough in the bush on the trail of rhinos and poachers.  I went to watch the teams in training exercises and to do a little to assist the veterinary team involved in ear-tagging rhinos which enables their identification by the anti-poaching rangers. They aim to sight each rhino in the conservancy every three months to confirm the success of their measures which have seen the rhino population in the conservancy doubled in 10 years. Watch the short video to see what that involves.  

But importantly, please give what you can to support this important cause in preserving Africa’s wildlife.

Thank you