JOHANNESBURG – The SanWild Rhino Sanctuary has endorsed an academy that will train rangers to physically protect rhino from being poached in South Africa.

The specialised wildlife protection academy will start training candidates from January next year.

At the same time, the world celebrates World Rhino Day on Sunday, it was started by the World Wide Foundation in 2011.

A total of 688 rhino have been killed in South Africa this year alone.

The SanWild Rhino Santuary’s Louis Joubert said, “We’ve teamed up with the specialised wild life protection academy that have managed to get the first endorsement for the training of professional counter poaching rangers to physically protect rhino.”

Meanwhile, The World Wildlife Fun (WWF) South Africa is targeting some of the world’s most influential people to pledge their support for rhino, asking for 1million tweets tagged “I am for rhinos”.

There are a number of events and initiatives happening this year and the focus is on creating awareness.

The Private Rhino Owners Association Pelham Jones said “We are trying to get every South African to become a rhino ambassador.”

The misguided perception that the rhino horn is a status symbol or has medical benefits has left activists dismayed that efforts to stop poaching has had little effect on the illicit trade.

219 people have been arrested this year in connection with rhino killings.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za