Giving bucks to save bucks
A presentation focusing on the identification of Oribi, and the threats these antelope face was given by Bradley Gibbons of the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Threatened Grassland Species Programme.
Primary school pupils from Schule Lüneburg have pooled together their bucks to raise funds for the conservation of Oribi.
The money raised by the pupils was placed on letters, ‘O R I B I’ drawn on the ground, as well as on two depictions of Oribi on cardboard.
A presentation focusing on the identification of Oribi, and the threats these antelope face was given by Bradley Gibbons of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Threatened Grassland Species Programme.
Mr Gibbons is based in northern KwaZulu-Natal and Oribi, found in the grassland biome, is a species in need of conservation.
Oribi numbers have been decreasing as a result of poaching, mostly through illegal hunting with dogs as well as habitat destruction. Due to their shy nature and instinct to hide rather than run, Oribi are more susceptible to being killed by dogs than other, larger antelope.
A total of R2 000 was raised by the pupils and the Endangered Wildlife Trust is very grateful for this contribution towards Oribi conservation.
“We would just like to thank the pupils and the teachers from the school for their much needed help,” said Mr Gibbons. “The money will be used to print hundreds of awareness posters, which will assist us in our efforts to combat illegal hunting with dogs.”
