In support of baby rhinos who have lost their mothers, Pinnacle Colleges Ridge View started a fat-free milk collection drive to provide nutrition to help them survive and thrive in wildlife sanctuaries.

Led by rhino lover Niki Macnamara, who is the head of department at the pre-primary school, the drive managed to collect 4 718.5 litres of milk, which can feed a baby rhino for 214 days, and they also raised R19 000 on the Karri App in cash. The funds and milk were donated to Rhino Connect, with one family donating R9 800 directly to the organisation.

“The seed was planted three years ago, but it was too late for us to join in then,” Niki said, explaining the birth of this heartwarming drive,” Niki said.

She further explained that this forms a big part of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) event, and the children buy into it wholeheartedly, making this contribution life-saving. Wessa promotes public participation in environmental care through education, advocacy, and high-impact conservation programs focused on biodiversity, sustainable tourism, and youth development.

According to The Rhino Orphanage, baby rhinos continue to nurse until 12–18 months of age, and they stay with their mothers for two to four years.

The school hopes that this drive will not only help the rhinos but will also instil values of empathy, responsibility, and environmental awareness in its learners.