On Thursday, 20 September, a large group of people gathered at Newscafe at King Shaka Airport for a unique rhino unveiling event, to support 2 local sports celebrities, Pat Lambie and Shaun Pollock, as they pledged their commitment to the fight against rhino poaching.
In the photo: Springbok rugby player Pat Lambie signs the rhino designed for him as part of the Rhino Parade (photos by Emma Gatland)
Pat and Shaun were the first two celebrities to raise their hands to become involved in the Durban leg of the Wildlands’ Rhino Parade, an innovative fundraising campaign based on the internationally renowned Cow Parade concept.
The initiative seeks to raise funding for the war on rhino poaching by getting South African Ambassadors to adopt and help design a ¾ life size black rhino sculpture, which is then auctioned at a high profile Gala Dinner, set to be held on the 29th of November at Durban City Hall.
The 2.5m long and 1.8m high rhino sculpture that is used to tell each celebrity’s individual story is made from a water-based resin, originated by Peter Hall, and then cast following a mould-making process by Kim Goodwin of the hugely respected Goodwin Foundry in Lidgetton.
DUT (Durban University of Technology) enthusiastically agreed to support the Rhino Parade by tasking their third year Graphic Design students to turn the blank rhino sculptures into true works of art, which they did above and beyond.
Vahenee Heeramun and Dean Irving are the bright young minds behind the Shaun Pollock rhino, in all its green and gold, patriotic beauty. Pat Lambie’s rhino, incorporating his passion for the environment and rugby, was the brain child of Bradley Bhramadu, with one element inspired by Justine Barry.
The students got to meet and interact with some of the celebrities, and this formed part of the artistic process that ultimately inspired their designs, which the students also implemented.
The Durban Rhino Parade includes four celebrity rhino, with the first two having been adopted by Shaun and Pat and the second two by legendary musician Ray Phiri and Olympic Gold Medalist Chad le Clos. These rhino will ultimately help fund various conservation initiatives, with a vision to curb the poaching statistics.
For more about the Wildland’s Rhino Project, click here