Sign up to sponsor me on my 2019 Virtual Marathon to raise money to help the rangers who protect the animals at Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, home of the last Northern White Rhinoceroses on Earth.
Why do I care about Rhinoceroses? Everyone knows I’m a dog-lover and I spend all my leisure time out roaming off-leash with my pack. I am very lucky to live in a place where I can walk out the back door and walk for miles and see nothing except forest, canyon, river, mountain and sky. Wildlife abounds all around me. It’s easy to believe that heaven is here, under my feet, as well as overhead.
Not everyone on this big blue ball is so fortunate….
In fact, it looks like we are entering the 6th wave of mass extinction of life on Earth. The other five were not our fault, but this one is. Right now there are only two living representatives of one of Earth’s more impressive species- the Northern White Rhinoceros. You could say truthfully that even though there are two left, the species is already extinct, because both are females. Moreover, they are closely related. And both are infertile. The last male died in March, 2018.
Some research is being carried out attempting to rear rhinos using in-vitro fertilization techniques. Some embryos have been produced. The embryos are hybrids between Northern White rhinos and Southern White rhinos. (Southern whites are currently not endangered, but are definitely threatened, as are Black rhinos, of which one sub-species is already gone.) The genetic material available for research is from a very small gene pool, which makes out-crossing to the Southern Species the best way forward.
“Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature. Unaware that this Nature he’s destroying is this God he’s worshiping.” Hubert Reeves
But before we can look to science to save anything we must have a planet where there is room for them. Rhinos are facing extinction because of “unbridled poaching and habitat loss.” In other words, because of human greed and selfishness and lack of respect for other species on this planet. I care about rhinos because I like this planet and the diversity of life residing upon it. It’s actually a pretty special place in the Universe.
Earth is mostly a very hospitable place for life in a generally inhospitable universe. But right now it’s not at all hospitable for rhinoceroses. My hope is that if more people were aware of just how beautiful and special Earth is, then maybe it can be safe for rhinoceros again someday. And that’s why I’m doing this marathon.
As John Muir observed, “When one tugs at a single thing in Nature he finds it attached to the rest of the World.”
Thanks to Lois Hild for figuring out a how I could apply my passion for hiking with my dog buddies towards making the world a better place for rhinoceroses by participating in a Virtual Marathon. All the money I raise will go to the rangers at Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, the home of the last two North White Rhinos. You can help too; I’m making it super easy for you.
All you have to do is sign up to sponsor me on this sign-up sheet I made. The minimum is only 1 cent per mile, which would be a maximum contribution of $27.50 if I finish the marathon! That’s only 7 & 1/2 cents a day!!!! You can sign up anytime, but sooner is better because then I’ll really be motivated to do it!
Happy Trails,
Shirley & Crew
