We regularly welcome visitors to our Prep School assemblies but few have travelled as far as Kenya to talk to the boys. We were therefore delighted to welcome rhino carer James Mwenda from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy rhino unit, Kenya, along with Simon Jones and Liz Simmonds from Helping Rhinos, on Wednesday 28 March.
James shared with the boys the tragic tale of the last male Northern White Rhino, called Sudan, who died last year. He was quite simply the last of his kind and serves as a symbol for what is happening to our planet as a whole.
Through his talk and a moving film about Sudan the rhino, James opened the boys’ eyes to the importance of protecting what we have before it is too late. He also impressed on them that we all have a responsibility and role to play in saving endangered species and their habitats. Everyone, especially our boys’ generation, needs to speak out for them.
“The time is now to save endangered species and ensure their future is granted through our actions and commitment.”
The fate of the Northern White Rhino now rests with the ‘Frozen Zoo’ in San Diego which holds the genetic material needed, and the last two female Northern White Rhinos. It is sad that this is the only hope to save them.
Talking after the assembly one boy said, “That was brilliant”, and we suspect a lot of boys went home that day determined to take action and help to make the world a better place for both people and animals.
We look forward to welcoming back Simon and Liz in the future to learn even more about these majestic creatures.
James and Sudan
Image courtesy of Helping Rhinos
Credit: David Hambridge