PREVIEW: Raw emotions over savage butchery

GENTLY tickling Sudan’s underbelly, Shane Raw experienced a melting pot of mixed emotions.

It was “absolutely awesome” being able to stroke a massive, powerful rhino. “Every time I stopped tickling him, he looked up as if to say, ‘Hey! Why are you stopping?’ almost like a gentle puppy, instead of a 2.3 ton rhino that could crush you in a second. Spending time with such an amazing animal was wonderful. When I had to leave, he even got up to follow me,” said Shane.

Shane’s sense of wonder and awe was overshadowed by an unbearable sadness. 43-year-old Sudan is the world’s last surviving male Northern White Rhino. Over the years, this sub-species has been savagely butchered by poachers to the brink of extinction. That visit to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya is, possibly, the last time Shane will ever be able to see a living male Northern White Rhino.

This year, he has heeded the call of a high-school buddy, Spurgeon Flemington, and will be participating in the Rhino Peak Challenge, a trail running challenge that takes place on World Rhino Day, this Friday. Former Springbok rugby captain, John Smit, world kayak marathon champion, Hank McGregor and kykNet soap star, Marco Spaumer, will also be participating.

Funds raised from this event will be split between two conservation projects.

“The first project helps protect rhinos through the training of dogs for anti-poaching operations. The second project protects and monitors the Bearded Vulture, also known as the Lammergeier, a critically endangered species that lives in the Drakensberg,” said Shane.

“We will be running 21km to the top of Rhino Peak, which at 3100m is one of the highest peaks in the Southern Drakensberg. My goal is to finish the challenge in 7 hours. People are urged to pledge an amount per minute that I beat my goal time. For example if I beat my goal time by 20min, you could pledge R10 per minute and make a donation of R200,” he explained.

To make a pledge, visit www.rhinopeakchallenge.co.za then click on participants and scroll right to the bottom to view Shane’s profile and make a pledge. The names of all the people who make a pledge are then entered into a lucky draw and the winner will take home a limited edition framed wildlife print valued at more than R5 000.

Shane’s preparation for the event has involved running up and down Vryheid Hill as many times as he can whenever it is possible.

“I know it is going to be tough and I am hoping for a cool day but it is worth it. I am doing this to support the small handful of people that are really trying to make a difference, people who are dedicated beyond question, but they need funding to continue their good work,” concluded Shane.

Read more about Shane Raw on pages 1 and 2 of tomorrow’s edition of the Vryheid Herald!