“The interpretation of Nonkululeko was the biggest artwork we have ever done,” said one of the students, Thulani Mkhize, “but working as a team made it a breeze.”
Ecologist Paul Dutton named and first knew about the hippo’s southerly travels after seeing its spoor near Nonothi in the Dolphin Coast and during his daily flights sponsored by Bateleurs. “I photographed it swimming in the back-line off Ballito, where thousands of visitors witnessed this rare site.
It harked back to another famous hippo, Huberta, who travelled from St Lucia to the Eastern Cape, where she was shot by farmers, in 1932. Nonkuleko’s demise reminded me how much we as human beings have lost our connection with the natural world,” Paul commented.
iSimangaliso`s CEO Andrew Zaloumis says, “We are delighted to be part of igniting this local talent, and giving value and pride to our heritage. World Heritage represents the interdependence of the world’s natural and cultural diversity, human skill and inspiration, and celebrates the gifts of nature while ensuring global protection for the heritage of all humankind. What better way to bring this together than through this land art work?”
For more information, visit the park’s website.