An exuberantly coloured water hole with wildlife at peace with nature. There are no guns or pangas. Katya Ludick’s desire to protect the vulnerable has won her the Google 4 Doodle competition.
“The reflection symbolises 20 years of freedom. In my South African dream, there is no more poaching. I’ve always had a soft spot for animals. We must fight for those that can’t speak,” she said of her doodle.
Google has awarded her school a R100,000 technology grant, and her picture has been seen by the entire country on Google’s home page.
Judges included the author of the Spud books, John van de Ruit, singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, DJ Fresh, Springbok Pat Lambie and CEO of Brand South Africa Miller Matola.
The competition called on South Africans aged between six and 17 to "doodle their dreams for South Africa". The doodles were judged on artistic merit, creativity in use of the Google logo and how clearly the theme was expressed in the artwork and the written statement.
The Grade 8 pupil from Noordheuwel High School in Krugersdorp hopes the competition run by the search engine giant increases awareness of the poaching crisis. “We should let everyone know how big this problem is.”
So far this year 1020 rhino have been poached, according to the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. As part of the international fight against the rhino horn and ivory trade, Interpol announced in October it would be setting up a special team to combat illegal trafficking.
“We are very proud of Katya,” says her school principal Dr Jac Fourie, who expressed appreciation for the “huge amount” she won for the school with her artistic talent.
“Conservation is a topic that is everybody’s concern – we try to stress this point by initiating excursions for our learners on a regular base. We live in a beautiful country and we really have to look after it.”
Ludick meanwhile expressed her thanks to her teacher, who entered her into the competition, and the people who voted for her.
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