Pupils roped into the fight against poaching

Heavy terrain and stormy weather have not stopped three men from riding around the country, encouraging pupils to fight against rhino poaching.

"Children can play a role in nature conservation and preserving the rhino. This is our way of showing them how," said former superbike racer Dave Estment.

Estment has joined forces with 2009 Idols winner Jason Hartman and Australian Damien Mander in the Rock 'n Ride 4 Rhino initiative.

Started in April, it consists of an epic 15000km motorbike route around Southern Africa mapped out in the shape of a rhino's head.

About 483 rhino have been killed this year. Last year saw the deaths of 668 rhino, according to the NGO Stop Rhino Poaching.

Estment, who is also a professional wildlife photographer and videographer, said the poaching statistics should raise fear in all South Africans.

"The rhino is our flagship species and having it face extinction this way is very detrimental as the largest portion of rhino in the world is in our country," he said.

The team has reached more than 35000 pupils at 57 schools and aims to reach 57 more schools before the tour's end in September.

Estment and Hartman ride and rev their motorbikes in the school halls during assembly before presentations by the trio.

Each pupil is challenged to raise at least R250 by doing household chores, cleaning neighbours' dogs, washing cars, or any activity to contribute to the cause.

The team aims to raise R20-million, while encouraging pupils to participate in a national 10-week Philanthropy Challenge .

Ten percent of the funds raised by the schools will contribute towards their local conservation/community projects.

Six percent will go towards equipment needed by Dr Cindy Harper at Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory for DNA profiling of rhino horns.

Mander, a former Australian Army Special Operations sniper and founding director of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation, said it teaches pupils an invaluable lesson.

"It is about teaching them to do something worthwhile for a cause without receiving anything in return," said Mander.

"There is more to it than fund-raising, because the future of conservation lies with them."