World Wildlife Day 2024: Connecting People and Planet

Image by Casey Pratt of Love Africa Marketing

United Nations World Wildlife Day is acknowledged annually on 3 March to celebrate wild animals, plants, and the environment they inhabit . Every year, the unique roles, and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet is recognised. In South Africa, our wild spaces and wildlife are in constant threat of extinctions – from the poaching of rhino and abalone to the illegal removal of plants such as cycads and Proteas. 

Image by Casey Pratt of Love Africa Marketing

During 2023, 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa, 406 were killed on state properties and 93 on privately owned parks, reserves, and farms. This was an increase of 51 in comparison to 448 rhinos poached in 2022. This week, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy acknowledged that there is once again pressure being felt in KZN with Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park facing the brunt of poaching cases, losing 307 of the total national poaching losses. Kruger National Park recorded a 37% decrease from 2022 with a total of 78 rhinos poached in 2023. 

Image by Casey Pratt of Love Africa Marketing

Dr Guy Fyvie, Veterinary Affairs Manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, says that it is for this very reason that we all need to play our part in protecting our natural heritage.  Hill’s Pet Nutrition sponsors K9 unit dogs in the Kruger and other National Parks, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, and other smaller/private parks around the country.  “There are substantial costs involved with training, feeding and looking after the health of the K9 unit dogs and Hill’s has proudly been sponsoring the units with food, equipment and healthcare for over a decade,” says Dr Fyvie.

The amazing roles these dogs play in the fight against poaching, and their incredible handlers, was highlighted in Hill’s’  Making CONTACT campaign;  a five-part mini-series celebrating anti-poaching K9 units in South Africa’s nature reserves. The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi K9 Unit, one of the anti-poaching units highlighted in the series, was revamped in 2020. “The K9 unit has an incredible success rate and the deterrent factor of having such a unit on site can never be underestimated,” explains Dennis Kelly, Makhamisa Section Ranger, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

Image by Casey Pratt of Love Africa Marketing

“Helping to protect and conserve our planet and wildlife is of global importance for Hill’s. The wild areas and their inhabitants are where we go to keep our spirit alive and need to be conserved for generations to come,” concludes Dr. Fyvie.

Together with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, South Africans are being called upon to help keep paws and boots on the ground by donating to the K9 anti-poaching units.  Donations can be made here with all proceeds going to the SANParks K9 Unit and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife K9 Units.

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