Save rhinos with Hublot
Animal protection in South Africa is having a tough time. And when tourism as a national source of income drops sharply in the wake of the pandemic, donations become more important than ever and animal protection organisations often have to rely on private donations to keep the problem from escalating. The watch manufacturer Hublot takes responsibility in its own way by renewing its commitment to the conservation of rhinos with the Big Bang Unico Sorai.
Text: Britta Rossander
In the news we hear that biological diversity is increasingly threatened. In many African countries this is a tangible reality. Especially for countries like South Africa where tourism and safari are a central source of income for the whole country. Income that is also used to preserve the rich animal life in the national parks. But when a national source of income drops sharply in the wake of the pandemic donations become more important than ever and animal protection organisations often have to rely on private donations so that the problem does not escalate. The watch manufacturer Hublot takes responsibility in its own way by with the With Big Bang Unico Sorai renewing its commitment to the preservation of rhinos.
The acute problem is that since the South African border was closed at the end of March 2020 to stop the spread of Covid19 the poaching can go on at a larger scale than before. Previously there was a constant stream of foreign visitors in among other places the Krüger park who with their presence kept the poachers in check. Now, because of a lack of rangers because of the pandemic, they can move around freely without being discovered.
Hublot has chosen to give its support to Kevin Pietersen and SORAI (Save Our Rhino Africa India) with a new edition of the Big Bang Unico SORAI. They wish for 100 future watch buyers to want to join in supporting the project. A substantial part of the price of the watch will go directly to Care for Wild. The largest rhino reserve in the world which works with the support of SORAI.
Care for Wild
Kevin Pietersen is the founder of SORAI at Care For Wild which is the world's largest sanctuary for rhino babies and it is of the greatest importance that his projekt can continue. Here rhinos that have been orphaned because of the poaching are rescued, rehabilitated and released.
The organisation works in a results-oriented way to protect the rhino against poaching which is the biggest threat to their existence in Africa. Up until the virus outbreak the hunting had steadily, but slowly, decreased. Despite this, over the past ten years two thirds of the rhino population in South Africa's Kruger Park have been killed by poachers. The black rhino has at an alarmingly high rate decreased in number and today it is estimated that fewer than 500 remain.
– It is our duty to support those who work to protect threatened species, especially the African rhino which is in a critical position with a risk of extinction. We are happy to be able to support Kevin Pietersen and SORAI, a movement that is decisive for the future, says Hublot's CEO Ricardo Guadalupe and continues:
– Every day is a fight against time for the teams of specialists who rescue, rehabilitate and release these rhinos back into nature. We do not want to lose one of the Big Five!
A rhino whose parents have been killed by poachers has no chance of surviving on its own. Care for Wild rescues these rhinos and lets them grow up in safe environments, equipped with 24-hour video surveillance and communication networks. They are watched over by mobile units with dogs whose handlers are trained to arrest poachers. The mission also includes that the animals taken into care are to be adapted to a life in freedom in the rhinos natural environment.
Big Bang Unico SORAI
The Big Bang Unico SORAI is made in two green tones with a ceramic case and a green camouflage-patterned strap. The series is limited to 100 examples and all are engraved on the case back. Look closely at the R which has a rhino's profile.
