Ruislip High School Mankwe Wildlife Reserve

Hi

We are a group of sixth form students at Ruislip High School .

During the summer of 2024 we visited the Mankwe Wildlife Reserve in South Africa. The reserve is family run and has charitable status. The main purpose of the reserve is the protection of Southern White Rhinos. We were extremely lucky to meet many of the rhinos and their new calves. Sadly though, the Southern White Rhino is seriously endangered, due in no small part to poachers. The poachers work in organised gangs with the sole purpose of poaching the rhino horns. When they are successful, the consequences are devastating and brutal - the rhinos always die.

The team at Mankwe have a dedicated Rhino Protection Unit (RPU) who work day and night patrolling the reserve on foot with their RPU dogs. Each member of the team has his own dog and we were completely struck by the bond between them.

The RPU needs to expand however, and needs to breed the next generation of dogs. It is this that we want to raise money for. Our target is to raise £2000 so that new kennels can be built for the next generation of RPU puppies.

some of the RPU dogs and their handlers

We are fundraising at school during our Sustainability Week in November. We have numerous plans including: a community litter pick, guess the name of the rhino, a mocktail bingo evening plus many more.

the Ruislip High Mankwe Team

Please help us to reach our target in any way you can - the future of Mankwe, and particularly the wonderful rhinos depends on it!