The perfect birthday gift is in constant threat from rhino poaching
As I have done on every birthday of my adult life, I woke up early to watch the sun rise and reflect on the years past and ponder on prospects of the coming years. This year however was slightly different as it was the first birthday I celebrated away from home and in a place where cellphone reception is a scarce commodity. Although I enjoyed the usual ritual of gazing at the sun rise this meant that I was going to miss out on the birthday customs that I’ve gotten used to at home. I was away from friends and family so this meant no chocolate cake and loved ones singing out of tune happy birthday jingles. There were no friends coming to my place uninvited with oodles of alcohol and inappropriate birthday gifts looking to celebrate my getting older. Since cellphone reception was bad this also meant I was going to miss out on the awkward phone call from an ex-girlfriend looking to capitalise on my good mood and try to get us back together.
This was supposed to be the worst birthday ever but it turned out to be the most memorable one yet. This particular birthday was spent in the company of rhinos and like-minded, environmentally conscious people. The most important day of my life was devoted to rhino conservation. On my birthday and also my birth month I had a chance to observe rhinos in their natural habitat while also doing my bit to ensure that rhino poaching does not drive these majestic creatures to extinction. This will forever be one of the most memorable birthday gifts; a gift I can never touch nor take home but will forever keep in my heart. My perfect birthday gift is however under constant risk of extinction as a result of rhino poaching. One day when I’m old, and hopefully not grey, this is a story I will share with my grandchildren. Hopefully the story will not be somewhat of folk tale where I tell of dinosaur-like creatures that once shared the Earth with us but were driven to extinction by our greed and misguided beliefs. Hopefully it will be a tale of how the efforts of a small group of people changed the perceptions of the world and saved rhinos from possible extinction. Hopefully, thanks to these people my grandchildren and their children after that will be able to witness the majesty of a real-life rhinos as I did on my birthday and birth month.
-Fortunate M. Phaka
Repost and correction.. I love what you guys are doing this is really great, keep up the best work of taking care of this wild life…Man was given dominion over all beast are people like you who we animal lovers we should be grateful about..
Power to the Nature..
Thank you Nhlanhla. Our work is spurred on by your support and encouragement.
Lets save our big five
Yes, let’s do so Tebogo!