While World Wildlife Day is on the 3rd of March, we are celebrating for the whole month, highlighting five incredible organisations.
South Africa (30 March 2023) – World Wildlife Day is a United Nations International day that celebrates all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet.
3 March was chosen as it is the birthday of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, signed in 1973. World Wildlife Day 2023 also marks the 50th anniversary of CITES, with the theme for this year’s celebration defined as ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation‘ in CITES’ honour.
There are thousands of organisations around the world doing tremendous work in the wildlife conservation space, protecting species, saving habitats, and ensuring the longevity of the amazing species which populate our planet. In 2022, scientists announced that they had given up efforts to find dozens of long-lost species, including two frogs, one of the world’s biggest fish, an orchid from Florida, a grass from New Hampshire, and many others – essentially declaring them extinct. That’s an indication of how much work we have to do to protect all the other forms of life we share our planet with.
These are the organisations we are celebrating this month.
MyPlanet Rhino Fund
The MyPlanet Rhino Fund was established in 2011 and, to date, over R25 million in support towards best practice initiatives in rhino protection and conservation has been paid out, with 50 000 MySchool members supporting the fund as one of their beneficiaries. Partners such as Woolworths, Loot, Engen, and many more contribute a small percentage of each member transaction to the program every time a member swipes their card – at no cost to the member.
The MyPlanet Rhino Fund supports organisations dealing with rhino security, securing populations, equipment, technologies, training, detection, and management of rhino populations.
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet General Manager Pieter Twine explains that the MyPlanet Rhino Fund’s main purpose is to provide supplementary funding towards best practice initiatives in rhino conservation and strengthen rhino conservation efforts and build conservation capabilities across Southern Africa. “The MyPlanet Rhino Fund is one of the biggest supporter-driven fundraising initiatives focused on rhino protection”.
Endangered Wildlife Trust
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental public benefit organisation. Since its establishment in 1973, the EWT has become a leading, well-known and trusted conservation role-player, committed to conserving threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa to the benefit of all.
To achieve this, the EWT focuses on three main strategic imperatives: Saving Species, Conserving Habitats, and Benefitting People. The growing EWT team is spread across southern and East Africa and works with businesses, communities and governments and are leaders in conservation research, community conservation, livelihood support, and training.
Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation
Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation is a small non-profit organization doing all it can to make a big impact. The team lives for helping the wildlife most at risk and loves working hands-on with animals. Their Mission is #EthicalConservation, with a focus on making the best possible decision for the wildlife most at risk and ensuring that required aid reaches the wildlife directly, making a practical difference. The Foundation works with diverse species such as Rhinos, Lions, Elephants, Wild Dogs, Leopards, Vultures, and lesser-known Jackals, Porcupines, Bushbabies, Hedgehogs, and Primates of all types, providing whatever is needed to save lives or improve living conditions of wildlife: infrastructure, consumables, medicines, capital items, and relocation services for wildlife needing better environments.
Back to Africa
Back to Africa is an NPO dedicated to giving back to African wildlife and what it has lost through supporting and facilitating innovative wildlife conservation and research projects.
The organisation’s directors are veterinarians dedicated to successful and constructive wildlife conservation, with extensive experience on the continent. They are always looking out for collaborators with unique skills to partner up and create formidable multidisciplinary teams to effect successful conservation outcomes.
Back to Africa believe that the cornerstone of conservation on the African continent lies with its people and endeavours to support further education and capacity-building programs to effect long-term conservation success stories.
African Wildlife Vets
African Wildlife Vets is an NPO that has a primary aim of assisting wildlife organisations with the conservation of threatened species by providing essential veterinary support. South Africa contains critically important biodiversity that is conserved in a growing network of state, private, and communally managed protected areas. Wildlife continues to come under increasing pressure from land transformation, limited habitat, fenced areas, snaring, poaching, and disease transmitted by domestic livestock and pets, placing veterinary services under strain.
African Wildlife Vets assists with the continued conservation of threatened species by providing veterinary services through the funding of personnel, veterinary equipment and medication.
“These five organisations are just some that our members support every month with their card swipes at our partner retailers. There are many others doing amazing work in conserving wildlife, providing water, developing education, building facilities, and doing all they can to help meet the needs of our country, continent, and planet,” says MySchool’s Pieter Twine.
“Every swipe contributes towards helping maintain our planet’s biodiversity, preserving endangered species and raising awareness – and actively doing something about – crucial environmental issues”.
Sign up for a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card online or via the app (Google Play or Apple App Store) to give back – at no charge – with every swipe.
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