Handing over the cheque to the Rhino Orphanage, from left: Willie Blignaut, Gabriel; Jaco Minnie, Textar; Arrie van Deventer, MD Legend Rhino Orphanage, Rhino Orphanage; Richard Berner, Textar; and Sean Staley, Gabriel.
Gabriel shock absorbers and Textar disc and brake pads, both Control Instruments-Automotive brands, raised R25 070 for The Rhino Orphanage at a golf day held at Legends Golf Course in Limpopo.
The Rhino Orphanage is the world’s first dedicated, non-commercial center to care for baby rhinos. A third of slain rhinos are either pregnant cows or mothers with a calf. Orphaned rhinos are brought to the Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg area of Limpopo. The exact location of the orphanage is kept secret for security reasons and the center is not open to the public.
The orphanage spends R70 000pm alone on imported rhino milk, in addition to the cost of feed.
In many cases of poaching, calves are orphaned. As a result, there is a need to provide specialist care for calves. Over 200 baby rhinos have been raised over two decades.