Johannesburg - The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has partnered with a Vietnamese NGO to develop an anti-rhino poaching campaign, the trust said on Thursday.
EWT official Rynette Coetzee said in a statement the trust was excited about its partnership with Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV).
“We are certain that our campaign, with this crucial buy-in from a respected and well known Vietnamese NGO, will help us to turn the tide on the plight of the rhino,” Coetzee said.
“Our message 'say no' to rhino horn, is an invitation to all the people of Vietnam to join the people in South Africa to help conserve Africa’s rhinos for today’s and tomorrow’s generations.”
Coetzee said that this would ensure that the demand for rhino horn would decrease.
The campaign consists of posters, media outreach and an online component. It would be done in English and Vietnamese.
Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy of ENV’s communication and public awareness unit said the campaign would feature on websites, social media, forums, blogs and in public exhibitions.
“The joint venture marks the first formal co-operation between ENV and a South African organisation mutually committed to ending the killing of rhinos,” Thuy said.
“We at ENV are absolutely committed to its success.”
EWT said the illegal wildlife trade was the third largest illegal industry in the world after drugs and human trafficking. - Sapa