Last week I was invited to join the team from Sparkle Cosmetics on an incredible African adventure of a lifetime…
Two days on safari inspired by their new African Safari nail lacquer collections for Morgan Taylor and Gelish PLUS the opportunity to participate in the most incredible wildlife conservation experience…
Gelish, Morgan Taylor and Sparkle are proud to support the protection of endangered wildlife species and their habitat, and, as part of their African Safari Fall Collection promise they are donating proceeds of their NEW Safari-inspired collection to a very worthy cause right in the heart of Africa!
In partnership with The Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust they funded a vital Rhino Notching that contributes to the conservation and protection of endangered rhino in southern Africa.
And the amazing part is that I got to join them for this emotionally charged, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Rhino Notching in Pilanesberg
In Africa rhino populations have plummeted in recent years due to the recent onslaught of Rhino Poaching. Sadly the demand for rhino horn, which is ironically made of the very same substance as our own fingernails – keratin, has resulted in rhino numbers declining towards extinction.
The effective management of Rhino populations requires certain essential elements.
“An individual based identification system is core to the gathering of vital biological data from ground monitoring, such as movements, home range, birth rate, inter-calving periods, associations and aggression, to name a few. With the recent breakthrough in DNA extraction from rhino horn, it has also become necessary to add to the rhino database genetic material collected from live rhinos as another tool in combating poaching.”
By cutting a small V, or square shapes into the ears of a rhino at certain positions, each rhino is given an individual number making any observation by monitoring officers of this animal into the future, together with the information that is observed, easier.
Obviously rhino immobilisation for this vital management operation is a hugely expensive exercise and Pilanesberg Park Management has requested The Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust (PWT) to assist with this project. The PWT in turn solicits donors to contribute to the project by sponsoring a “hands on” rhino capture experience where guests actively take part and assist the Vet and Park crew during the operation.
By Morgan Taylor and Gelish sponsoring this rhino immobilization they (and their loyal customers and fans) contributed to the conservation, and furthered protection, of these amazing creatures.
We joined the team of an experienced helicopter pilot, Vet and Park management officials to see what goes into a rhino notching operation. A helicopter was used to locate an unmarked rhino, and then the animal was guided to suitable working area and away from danger when it was darted and sedated before ground crew and us moved in on foot to carry out the necessary procedures of notching and DNA collection.
I made a short video of our morning which you can watch for a summarised version of the experience. Please note that at all times the rhino’s safety, welfare, and dignity, is the priority and the rhino is never put at risk.
Many thanks to Sparkle Cosmetics, Mankwe Game Trackers and Rhino911 and all those who made this event possible.
For more information on how you and your company can contribute towards this outstanding and essential NPO, please visit Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust website