Imire: Rhino & Wildlife Conservation

Hi, my name is Katie and on the 8th June I will be running a half marathon at Cheltenham Running Festival to raise money towards my once in a lifetime trip to Zimbabwe.

As part of my volunteering module at University I am required to undertake 40 hours of volunteering.

I have been offered the incredible opportunity to head out to Zimbabwe on the 11th April and volunteer with Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservation. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from conservation experts, get hands on experience with a variety of wild animals and develop my cultural understanding, working alongside the community. I will be providing care to endangered species, helping to undertake research into behaviours and habits of wildlife and getting involved with anti poaching efforts, conservancy management and maintenance and patrols as well as helping to educate local communities.

The Aspinall Foundation is partnered with Imire and are devoted to conservation of endangered species and returning them to wild protected areas. In 1987 they were granted custodianship of seven orphaned Rhinos due to the distressing rise of illegal poaching. They became an intensive black rhino breeding station and to date they have released 11 black rhinos into the wild! Following this, Imire was selected for the Cheetah rewilding project, and the first two male cheetahs were rewilded to Imire in February 2021.

This trip will be my first solo tip and my third time on a plane…I’m not a fan of flying, or leaving my horses! so to say I’m nervous would be an understatement, but so very excited about this incredible opportunity that has come my way!! Anything raised over my goal will be donated to the sanctuary to support their conservation projects!

I would be so incredibly grateful of even the smallest donation. The cake you would normally pick up with a coffee in the morning or a chocolate bar from the petrol station when you fill your car up.

I’m certainly putting my wonky body through its paces and more often than not it really doesn’t like me! But I’m working hard and getting stronger physically so I can achieve my goals and do the things I’ve always dreamed of!

your help and support really means the world to me!

Love Katie