The Springs community has once again shown its support for wildlife conservation, with the second Walk for Rhinos bringing residents together on October 31 opposite the Springs Mall to raise funds and awareness about the protection of rhinos.

Hosted by the Insimbi Legacy Project, the walk gave participants an opportunity to support a conservation cause while enjoying nature and learning more about the importance of protecting wildlife.

The founder, Carmela da Arrigo, told Springs Advertiser that the success of the previous walk inspired the organisation to host the event again, as it recognised that people wanted to contribute to a worthy cause while enjoying a meaningful experience.

“Our last walk was a huge success and we believe that people want to support a good cause and have a great experience at the same time,” she said.

Da Arrigo described the growth of the initiative as encouraging, with many people joining both the walk and the cause.

She credited the strong community spirit in Springs for the support the project continues to receive.

“The Springs community is a closely knit community, and Springs always support,” she said.

Beyond fundraising, she explained that the walks are an important platform for educating people about wildlife conservation and what it means to be a rhino custodian.

The project also provides practical opportunities for people who want to become more involved in conservation, particularly through its work in Limpopo, where participants can gain skills and experience by joining the team on the ground.

However, Da Arrigo acknowledged that conservation work comes with several challenges, with financial constraints and climate change among the biggest concerns.

“Financial challenges and climate change are probably two of the most significant challenges we are facing,” she said.

She explained that rising temperatures and declining rainfall are placing pressure on the environment, making preparation and food stability increasingly important.

While the annual walks remain an important part of the organisation’s fundraising efforts, Insimbi Legacy Project has introduced other initiatives to keep people involved throughout the year.

Reflecting on the organisation’s journey, Da Arrigo said the project officially started in 2018, although its roots go back to October 31, 2014, when the loss of two rhinos to poaching prompted the beginning of what would eventually become the project.

She expressed gratitude to everyone who continues to support the organisation and its conservation work.

“With a grateful heart, we thank everyone for supporting Insimbi Legacy Projects,” she said.

For Springs resident and teacher Joanne Clifford, the walk was also an opportunity to combine her love for nature with education by bringing some of her learners along.

Clifford told the publication that having her fur baby accompany her on the walk was one of the main reasons she decided to participate and support local events.

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Having understood that the walk was aimed at raising funds for wildlife conservation, she said she was happy to support the initiative, describing nature as something that brings peace, energy and relaxation.

“I absolutely love nature. Nature is fantastic, and it always makes you feel calm and rested, energetic,” she said.

As an educator, Clifford believes events such as the Walk for Rhinos play an important role in raising awareness and giving people, particularly young learners, an opportunity to understand their natural surroundings.

She encouraged some of her learners to attend, turning the walk into an outdoor learning experience where they could connect their geography lessons with what they encountered along the trail.

“Most of them are geography students, so it was nice to see the erosion, the water, the trees, obviously, and just the vegetation and how important that is for the animals as well,” she said.

Seeing some of the wild animals along the route was an added highlight for the learners.

Clifford described the atmosphere as energetic and enjoyable, praising the organisers for ensuring that participants were safe and well looked after throughout the event.

“It was fantastic. It was energetic, it was nice, and the organisers really went the extra mile to make sure that we were safe and that we were well looked after,” she said.

She encouraged more Springs residents, parents and learners to participate in similar activities, saying they provide a valuable opportunity for people to connect with nature and one another.

For both Da Arrigo and Clifford, the walk represented more than a fundraising activity.

It was an opportunity to bring the community together, encourage environmental awareness and remind residents of the importance of protecting wildlife for future generations.