 Reference Base  American Association of Zoo Keepers: bowling for Rhinos |
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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Conservation |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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When black rhino Diceros biconrnis populations plummeted
in the 1980s because of poaching, zoo keepers
throughout North America took action to raise funds for
conservation of the species: thus the Bowling For Rhinos
fund-raiser began. At the same time as they spread the word
about the plight of the black rhino, zoo keepers organized
annual fund-raisers to secure money from the public to conserve
rhinos in the wild. Since 1990 the American Association
of Zoo keepers (AAZK) has sponsored Bowling For Rhinos,
which has now raised over USD 4.3 million for conservation.
Over 70AAZK chapters participate throughout the USA and
Canada, raising more thanUSD300,000 annually. The funds
are sent through Lewa USA, the International Rhino Foundation,
and Action for Cheetahs in Kenya. The Association is
currently developing a new campaign, in Australia. The
funds raised by Bowling For Rhinos supports LewaWildlife
Conservancy (formerly Ngare Sergoi rhino sanctuary) in
Kenya, Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia, Bukit
Barisan Selatan National Park and Way Kambas in Sumatra,
and Manas National Park in India. As well as contributing to
saving all five rhino species, the funding helps secure organisms
ranging in size from orchids to elephants. Conservation
of rhino habitat is also helping to conserve the Endangered
Grevy’s zebra and the Critically Endangered hirola. The
Bowling For Rhinos fund-raiser is now preparing for its 24th
year. The programme is run entirely by volunteers, enabling
100% of all donations to go directly to conservation in the
field. For more information please see http://aazkbfr.org
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