2019 - Year of the Black Rhino
On March 20th, 2018, we learned of the passing of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino.
It was very heartbreaking to witness the demise of this species.
Scroll down to learn more
Sudan was guarded 24 hours a day at the conservancy to protect him from poaching, which is a major problem for rhinoceroses. The protection includes horn-embedded transmitters, watchtowers, fences, drones, guard dogs, and trained armed guards around the clock.
SUDAN
1973-2018
The last northern white rhino
How did we get to this point? The poaching crisis of the 1970s and 80s, fueled by demand for rhino horn in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Asia and dagger handles in Yemen, wiped out the northern white rhino populations in eastern Africa.
The last remaining wild population made up of 20-30 rhinos in Congo succumbed to fighting in the region during the 1990s and early 2000s. By 2008, the northern white rhino was considered by most experts to be extinct in the wild.
SUDAN
How did we get to this point? The poaching crisis of the 1970s and 80s, fueled by demand for rhino horn in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Asia and dagger handles in Yemen, wiped out the northern white rhino populations in eastern Africa.
The last remaining wild population made up of 20-30 rhinos in Congo succumbed to fighting in the region during the 1990s and early 2000s. By 2008, the northern white rhino was considered by most experts to be extinct in the wild.
We wanted to make a difference and as a result, we decided that 2019 will be about the black rhino.
WHY THE BLACK RHINO?
Following the death of Sudan, David Rio wanted to make a difference of the Rhino Species. We choose the black rhino because we saw the opportunity to have a direct impact on a hopeful prospect through out partnership with Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Ol Peteja is one the leading conservancies in the restoration of black rhino populations.
The black rhino is a critically endangered species which saw a population decline of a staggering 97.6% from 1960 to the 1990’s, primarily as a result of poaching.
In 1993, there were estimated to be just 2,300 black rhino living in the wild, but thanks to conservation efforts across Kenya and southern Africa, populations have risen to over 5,000 today.
THE BLACK RHINO HAS A FIGHTING CHANCE TO MAKE A HUGE COME BACK
And we want to help so we have done the following:
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We named our next chai in the endangered species line after the Black Rhino in honor of Sudan. Our newest product is the Black Rhino Cocoa Chai.
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We have partnered with the Ol Pejeta Conservancy which is the largest and the most well respected Black Rhino conservancies in the world. Ol Pejeta was the home of Sudan earlier mentioned will be supporting us in curating the “Feel the Charge” Black Rhino Campaign.
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We adopted Baraka the blind black rhino who lives at Ol Pejeta – he is the black rhino ambassador at the Ol Pejeta Grounds. You too can adopt him!
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We launched the “Feel the Charge” black rhino campaign where anyone can donate directly to Ol Pejeta who is at the forefront of this black rhino initiative. We have a goal to raise $10000 and we need your help. So please donate and let us know on Instagram by leaving a note on our black rhino posts simply saying “I donated to the Black Rhino’s”. Please tag a friend to encourage others to donate. Take a screenshot of your donation receipt and Direct Message (DM) it to us on @davidriosf and we will enter you to win a canister of our black rhino cocoa chai. Winners will be contacted at the end of every month until the end of the campaign.
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Finally, David Rio will match up to $5000 in donations to the Feel the Charge Campaign.
DID YOU KNOW?
Black rhinos are smaller than white rhinos, and there is actually no color difference between them at all. Black rhinos use their hooked lip to browse shrubs – and prefer thick bush habitat. They are generally more solitary and shy than white rhino, and have a reputation for being more aggressive too
David Rio's Commitment to Support Animal Welfare
As a part of our corporate philosophy to support animal welfare, David Rio has maintained partnerships
with local, regional, and international organizations since 1996.
Click on an image below to learn more about each partnership.
