If there is something to celebrate it’s the dedicated people who commit their life to the protection of wildlife and make every day a World Rhino Day. These wonderful (underpaid) individuals deserve all the cake and tea in China; however, I’ve a feeling they don’t have much of an appetite to party after spending 364.25 days a year dealing with wildlife poachers. And I imagine they’d barely have chance to blow the candles out before they were, once again, working hard to convince wealthy businessmen that rhino horn is not an alternative medicine and that its qualities as an aphrodisiac hold no scientific claims – other than as a phallic symbol (to grotesquely boast the kind of wealth that purchases things with no high-street price tag. The price: the life of a unique animal).

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These wonderful (underpaid) individuals deserve all the cake and tea in China; however, I’ve a feeling they don’t have much of an appetite to party after spending 364.25 days a year dealing with wildlife poachers. And I imagine they’d barely have chance to blow the candles out before they were, once again, working hard to convince high net worth individuals that rhino horn is not an alternative medicine and that its qualities as an aphrodisiac hold no scientific claims – other than as a phallic symbol to grotesquely boast the kind of wealth that purchases things with no high-street price tag. The price: the life of a unique animal.

According to the WWF, 6680 rhinos have been poached in South Africa – home to 80% of all rhino – since 2006.

World Rhino Day will help remind the world that we’re collectively fighting a battle we cannot afford to lose but – let’s face it – the outlook is incredibly bleak and one can’t help but feel that the diminishing numbers of rhino will further increase their street value. 

Sadly, I can only see two eventualities: Win we must. For if we lose, World Rhino Day will become sadder and sadder until the last great herbivore stands guarded on an African plain whilst the clock ticks away, counting down, as money always gets its wicked way.

I’m counting on those who do good work to win.

Thank you.