When sitting down with a glass of your favourite today decide on a New Year’s resolution that is something that is important to you – find your passion and start small.
Western Cape, South Africa – Today is the day where people all around the world plan to ring in the New Year with family or friends and make New Year’s resolutions in an attempt to improve their lives.
New Year’s resolutions are often no more than good ideas that last a few weeks, but for one, now 12 years old, Hunter Mitchell, his New Years’ resolution this time four years ago, started an incredible journey to help save our rhino.
Hunter’s journey is a well-known one, but one we never tire of hearing. On New Year’s Eve 2015, a then 8-year-old Hunter heard about an orphaned young rhino calf that had been found in the middle of the night at a game reserve in the Western Cape. The rhino, who was named Osita, touched the hearts of many, but it was Hunter who decided to do something to help.
Learning to not only care for Osita in a hands-on practical way, Hunter – who was recently awarded the 111th Commonwealth ‘Point of Light’ from her Majesty the Queen, also learnt about the plight of the rhino population in Africa and how they are on the fast track to extinction and so his resolution to help to save just one rhino became a mission to save our rhino population.
Young Mitchell’s altruism for wildlife extends beyond his passion – his resolution became his calling to a key role player in the fight to save our rhino! Over the past four years, Hunter has raised over a quarter of a million Rands (R275 000) which has made a significant difference in the life of not only Osita but other orphaned and injured rhino that have been rescued from horrible poaching attacks.
It is, however, the awareness and education of his peers, both here in South African and places as far away as Japan that is growing his army of young warriors to stand up and make a difference.
Speaking at the recent World Youth Wildlife Summit, held at the South African Wildlife College in September, he emphasised to the 200-plus young delegates from around the world that, “We have not caused this crisis! We have been born into it, and I believe we can have a bigger impact and be more powerful because when we talk and when we act, we start to make adults feel guilty because they are the ones that have stolen rhino and other wildlife from our future. There is not enough time to wait for us to grow up and be the ones that make the decisions – we must speak out now and make the changes now and only then can we prevent extinction from happening.”
Earlier this year Hunter pitched his idea of a rhino sock collection to one of his inspirational mentor’s, Suzanne Ackerman-Berman and it was with Suzanne’s incredible support and belief that he worked hard throughout the year with the Pick ‘n Pay clothing team to make his dream a reality.
‘Raise the Baby Rhino with Hunter’, his aptly named foundation, rhino socks are now on the shelves in Pick ‘n Pay Clothing stores throughout the country. The collection is all of Hunter’s own design with five different funky unisex colours and retails for just R29.99 per pair for adults and R19.99 per pair for children! Available while stocks last, the socks are cotton-rich and made locally, which was one of Hunter’s stipulations. All proceeds go directly to another of his incredible mentors, Dr Johan Marais and his NGO ‘Saving the Survivors’ – a team of wildlife vets whose mission is to save every animal who has fallen victim to poaching or traumatic incident.
And while his rhino socks are flying off the shelves, Hunter has chosen today to simultaneously raise funds and support for another NGO Rhino Art doing invaluable work in the communities around our game parks where it matters most. Started in 2013 by one of South Africa’s most well-known humanitarian adventurers, Kingsley Holgate, in conjunction with Project Rhino, this project is the most successful conservation education project in Africa and reached over 500000 youth educating children on the impact of the rhino poaching crisis, growing a love for wildlife and importantly, hearing their voices and recording their thoughts and opinions.
“We will achieve more for our futures if we are all making a small difference instead of expecting just a few people to make a massive difference”, says Hunter.
“We have only been given one planet – one planet to love, share and protect. What we do to this planet will be handed onto our children and grandchildren.”
In the waning hours of 2019, Hunter believes it’s important to pause for a moment to celebrate the accomplishments for our wildlife, even the small ones. And while there’s still work to be done, every victory shows us that we can challenge the threats to nature and help ensure their future. It’s not too late – we all can make a difference.
“Rhinos are our heritage and need our help now more than ever. Please buy a pair and wear your rhino socks with pride and help spread awareness so we can all have the privilege of having these amazing animals in our future.”
So when sitting down with a glass of your favourite today decide on a resolution that is something that is important to you – find your passion and start small.
“I once read a quote: ‘Let your joy be your journey – not in some distant goal’ – I think this is so true for me!”, ends Hunter.
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