R3.5bn boost in fight to save rhinos

A White Rhino and her calf walk in the dusk light in Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa's North West Province April 19, 2012. Elephant and rhino poaching is surging, conservationists say, an illegal piece of Asia's scramble for African resources, driven by the growing purchasing power of the region's newly affluent classes. In South Africa, nearly two rhinos a day are being killed to meet demand for the animal's horn, which is worth more than its weight in gold. Picture taken April 19, 2012. To match Feature AFRICA-POACHING/ REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: ENVIRONMENT ANIMALS)

A White Rhino and her calf walk in the dusk light in Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa's North West Province April 19, 2012. Elephant and rhino poaching is surging, conservationists say, an illegal piece of Asia's scramble for African resources, driven by the growing purchasing power of the region's newly affluent classes. In South Africa, nearly two rhinos a day are being killed to meet demand for the animal's horn, which is worth more than its weight in gold. Picture taken April 19, 2012. To match Feature AFRICA-POACHING/ REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: ENVIRONMENT ANIMALS)

Published Apr 23, 2014

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Johannesburg - SA National Parks has received about R3.5-million to fight rhino poaching.

“I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Bavaria Brewery and to each of the participating retailers for their commitment to Sanparks,” acting Sanparks chief executive officer Abe Sibiya said in Pretoria.

Bavaria Breweries and five big retailers including Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Spar, Massmart and Shoprite Checkers group raised the money over a period of four months.

The money would go towards training and equipping rangers to save rhinos.

Sibiya said 3072 rhinos had been poached in South Africa since 2000.

He said 58 percent of the rhinos had been poached from the Kruger National Park.

More than 200 rhinos had been poached this year.

Sibiya said Sanparks had conducted educational programmes on various platforms to educate people about rhino poaching. - Sapa

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