According to National Geographic’s ‘Wildlife Watch’ (21 January 2016) South Africa is home to an estimated 19,700 rhinos, about 80 percent of the world’s population.

In 2015 1,175 rhino were poached in South Africa.

Ginette Hemley, Senior President of the World Wildlife Fund, said even though the South African government continued to ramp-up efforts to stop wildlife poaching the number poached per year needs to be urgently and swiftly addressed.

In the light of the above the release of the three young white rhino orphans into the iSimangaliso Wetland Park - offering the rhino refuge and a ‘brighter future’ - is encouraging news.

Further, the saving of the beached whales in New Zealand by the hundreds of volunteers needs to be acknowledged and commended as the fundamental energy of the human spirit.

SCRIPT OF LETTER SENT TO The Mercury, Tuesday 14 Feb 2017
NOTE: Letter published in The Mercury, Wednesday 15 Feb 2017

Darul Ihsan Media Desk