Young Activists Band Together To Conserve Sumatran Rhinos

Jakarta - While some students head to the mall after school or spend their free time watching TV, 20 students of the Jakarta International School in South Jakarta gather once a week to devise ways to save the critically endangered Sumatran rhino from extinction. This group of young activists are known as the Rhino Club.

Established in August 2008, the Rhino Club is a group of eighth graders who raise awareness and organize fund-raising activities for the cause.

“There are only about 250 Sumatran rhinos left,” said Noah Lumbantobing of the club. “Their habitat is rapidly shrinking.”

Hannah Macdonald, another member, said: “Rhinos get killed all the time. Their habitats are being destroyed, their food is disappearing rapidly and they can`t do anything about it.”

According to the International Rhino Foundation, although Sumatran rhinos are not the rarest species, they are the most endangered because they are dying quicker than others. The population has shrunk by more than 50 percent in the last 15 years.

Club member Alex Mrsa said that poaching and habitat destruction from illegal logging and palm plantations were major threats.

“We would like to see more involvement in conservation efforts from the government,” said Prashina Chopra, 13. “Without laws protecting forest land and without consequences for individuals who break conservation laws, the Sumatran rhino may soon be extinct.”

Cathy Craig, the supervisor of the Rhino Club, said, “These kids are very passionate about making a difference.”

In April, the students visited the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, a breeding center in Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra`s Lampung province. The 100-hectare premise is used for propagation, research and education, but is also home to five Sumatran rhinos that are the subject of intensive research and a breeding program.

During the five-day trip, the students spent hours in the rhinos` pen, feeding them, observing how they courted one another and rinsing the mud-swamped animals.

Prior to the trip, the eager Rhino Club members actively spread the word about the Sumatran rhino to their schoolmates.

Last Valentine`s Day, the group distributed pink daisies to fellow students with a factoid about the endangered species attached to each flower. “We spent hours doing it,” Priayasha Madhavan said, “but we ended up raising a lot of awareness.”

The group is currently working on a three-minute video to be posted on the International Rhino Foundation Web site for its upcoming Adopt-a-Rhino program.

The club has also organized a number of fund-raising events, for example, a Nintendo Wii competition. Students bought raffle tickets for the opportunity to play against the school principal. That event raised about Rp 5 million ($485).

But the most successful fund-raiser was selling soft-toy rhinos to students, for which they collected Rp 7 million.

The club has raised about $3,000 in total, and is aiming for $10,000.

“The sanctuary is spending 75 percent of its money on things like electricity, water circulation and refrigeration just to keep the rhinos` food fresh,” Alex said. “If we can help pay for that, they can use the money for the rhinos.”

Michael Boots, the director of middle-school activities at JIS, said: “The Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary is basically in our backyard and makes an excellent opportunity for students to be actively involved in conservation. Establishing outlets for students to get actively involved in combating global issues is crucial.”

Maria de Pauw of the club said that preservation was important for all species. “Everything in this world is connected,” she said. “The world is like a brick wall. If we slowly take out each brick, eventually the wall will collapse.” Armando Siahaan

Adopt a Rhino

The International Rhino Foundation`s Adopt-a-Rhino program accepts donations for the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. A $30 donation can feed a rhino for two days. The money also goes toward the upkeep of their habitat and veterinary expenses.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com (24 May 2009)
Photo: http://www.rhinos-irf.org

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