Standing together for our rhinos

Every year, on September 22, South Africans pause on National Rhino Day, to reflect on the plight of one of our most iconic animals. The rhinoceros, a creature that has walked our lands for millions of years, now stands at the mercy of human greed. Poaching and habitat loss have pushed rhinos closer to the edge of extinction, and their survival depends on whether we, as a nation and as individuals, are willing to act.

Barberton and the greater Lowveld are privileged to be part of this conversation, because the fight to protect rhinos is not happening in far-off corners of the country, it is happening here, in our backyards.

Just beyond our valleys lies Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, founded by Petronel Nieuwoudt. This sanctuary has become the largest specialised rhino orphanage in the world, providing not only critical care to rhino calves orphaned by poaching, but also pioneering long-term rehabilitation and release programs.

Petronel and her dedicated team remind us that compassion and courage can change the future. Each rhino calf they save represents a chance to undo some of the damage done by ruthless poachers. Each successful release back into the wild is a beacon of hope for conservationists everywhere.

But Care for Wild cannot do it alone. National Rhino Day is more than a symbolic date. It is a call to each of us to support organisations that protect our natural heritage. Whether through donations, volunteering, spreading awareness, or simply teaching our children about the importance of wildlife conservation, we all have a role to play.

Our rhinos are not just animals; they are part of South Africa’s soul. To lose them would be to lose a piece of ourselves. On this Rhino Day, let us commit as a community and as a country to ensure that future generations will not know rhinos only from history books.

Because if South Africans stand together, we can still tip the balance toward survival, not extinction.

𝓛𝔂𝓷𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮.