Written by: David Rosenzweig

1 020: that is the estimated number of rhinos that have been killed in South Africa this year alone, and that number is on the rise. Fears are starting to set in that the rhinos may be extinct within the next two decades and all because of the horn on their head.

However rhino poaching has received a significant response from the wildlife conservation community. With the help of celebrities (such as Yao Ming and Jackie Chan) and news networks (such as the BBC), the public is starting to become aware of the troubles rhinos are facing. Additionally, conservation programs and initiatives have started to spring up in order to combat this poaching threat.

Earlier this year Dereck and Beverly Joubert announced a campaign to move 100 rhinos from the high poaching areas of South Africa to the low poaching areas of Botswana. By reintroducing a rhino population into Botswana they hope to create a safe habitat in which the rhinos can remain free of poachers and establish a stronghold. This initiative is called Rhinos Without Borders.

As part of this initiative I have decided to create a fundraiser of my own to help raise money for Rhinos Without Borders. I am a 16 year old wildlife photographer and conservationist from the USA, who has been fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to travel to Africa and experience its beauty. It is extremely rare for one to be able to say that they have found their passion at such a young age, but I am fortunate enough to be able to say that.

Since going to Tanzania, Botswana and Zambia and photographing the wildlife for the first time, I began to realise the opportunities I was being given. Instead of just keeping my experience to myself, I decided to make it my mission to use my photographs as conservation tools and to spread the plight of Africa’s animals to the people back home. After receiving extremely positive feedback, I knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do and my love for conservation began.

In September of 2014 I began working with Rhinos Without Borders to find ways that I could help out with their initiative. After months of going back and forth, we finally decided that the best way that I could help was through my pictures and that is exactly what I am doing today.

For the next few weeks I will be running a fundraiser in which I will be selling prints of my photographs. As part of this fundraiser I have selected many of my favourites from the various places that I have visited, which are pictures throughout this article. Each print will come signed with a brief write up on the scenario in which the picture was taken. Each photo only has ten prints available with pictures ranging from US$ 50 – 100 excluding shipping. If you are interested in purchasing one of my prints, please email me at davidrosenzweigphotography@gmail.com.

For each print that I sell, 100% of the proceeds will be going to the Rhinos Without Borders initiative. If you are interested in finding out more information on the initiative or donating yourself, please visit their page- trevolta.com/rhinos. The campaign is currently in its first stage in which money is being raised to capture, translocate, and release the rhinos which will then be carefully monitored until final release. With your help, we can ensure that future generations will have the ability to experience a rhino in the wild. We must act now before it’s too late.