Couple to tackle crocs to save rhino

30 June 2016 - 09:24 By BOBBY JORDAN

Would you give an arm and a leg to save a rhino? A South African couple is hoping it doesn't cost them that much when they chart a perilous 800km course across Lake Tanganyika, which is notorious for its crocodiles. The 40-day kayak adventure up the length of the lake is intended to raise $50,000 (R742,000), the cost of relocating a single black rhino from poaching areas in South Africa or Zimbabwe to a secret game park in Botswana, where poaching is "virtually non-existent".Ruth Nussbaum and Kyle de Nobrega work in Botswana as wildlife and photographic guides.They will paddle south to north from Mpulungu in Zambia to Bujumbura in Burundi, setting off in October.If successful, Nussbaum would become the first woman to complete the journey."Realistically, wind and lake swell will be our biggest challenges and physical restraints," said the adventurous couple."The lake is home to healthy populations of crocs and hippos, which we will have to always be on the lookout for."It is completely unknown territory to us; we will exploring from scratch."We have not done much kayaking before, so this is all new. We are training as much as possible."They said the project, dubbed One Lake One Rhino, had the support of Botswana's government, which had offered free use of its military C130 Hercules aircraft for rhino translocation. Funds were required to purchase and relocate a rhino from a poaching-hit area."We feel incredibly passionate about conserving Africa's wildlife."Currently, rhino poaching is one of the serious issues we are faced with," the couple said.In order to minimise weight, they will carry only essential camping equipment, such as a lightweight tent and a minimum of high-protein food.Family member Dick Barkhuizen praised the couple for their adventurous spirit: "All of this is being done to relocate one rhino to a safe place."..

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