A step in the right direction

It was aimed at sending a message to all that not only rhino but four of the Big 5 are being threatened and that conservation in general faces a crisis. 

This environmental education campaign was able to reach over 180 000 children during August and September as it was implemented throughout Mpumalanga focusing on the rural areas around the various MTPA nature reserves. 

“Over 35 schools were visited across these areas and eight awareness fun runs were held. 

“The first, second and third winners of the eight events were selected to take part in the provincial 5km family fun run over this weekend,” said Marinda Marais, senior manager of social ecology, MTPA.

“This campaign has afforded us an opportunity to reach out to the children in the communities surrounding our reserves to teach them about the importance of conserving our environment and most of all for them to understand that the Big 5 is not complete if one of its family members is missing. 

“All animals, big or small are important and need to be well preserved and nurtured,” added Marais.

The former Olympic-acclaimed winner Zola Budd took part in this initiative again this year by participating in the 5km run with the conservation and public runners. 

She presented the awards to the winners at the prize-giving ceremony and gave the top two conservation runners a pair of Newton sneakers. 
“We are excited to once again have Zola supporting this initiative. Through her support we are able to send a message across to the communities out there and encourage our children to become conservation ambassadors,” she concluded.

The first boy Thabang Hedzane and first girl Lina Matseke of the conservation run were each presented with a ticket to the USA and luggage bags. 

They will both represent Mpumalanga as conservation ambassadors and run to raise awareness concerning the plight of the Big 5 in the province.