Charity Helping Rhinos held a wonderful art event at the swanky Cornflake Art for Technology Gallery in London on the 8th of October. I attended with my wildlife presenter friend Nigel Marven who had been invited to speak on the subject of rhino conservation.
Helping Rhinos is a UK based charitable organisation with a dual focus, best summarised by their mission statement: “Creating awareness of the issues threatening the global rhino population and Raising funds to help protect them for future generations”
Rhino poaching has increased beyond belief in recent years. In South Africa alone the number of rhinos killed by poachers has increased from just 13 in 2007 to 1,215 in 2014 – a 9,346% increase in just 7 years! Rhinos are being poached for their horn which is shipped to destination markets, with Vietnam and China said to be the largest importers in the illegal trade of horn, now the world’s most expensive ‘commodity’.
Cornflake Gallery hosted the event to launch Helping Rhino’s new fundraising project where the three UK organisations Cornflake Gallery, artist Tori Ratcliffe and Helping Rhinos are joining forces to help save the rhinoceros from extinction.
This unique collaboration will see CORNFLAKE sponsor one piece of exclusive artwork per month from TORI RATCLIFFE. The profits from the sale of every specially commissioned piece of artwork will be donated to us here at HELPING RHINOS.
Nigel Marven stood up to speak about his work with rhinos and how important it is that we protect them now before it is too late.
There was also a heart-breaking film showing the rescue of a female rhino called Thandi who had been found de-horned and terribly injured. She was one of three rhinos who fell victim to the poachers at Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa on the 2nd March 2012. She was nursed back to health and eventually gave birth to a calf, but was still horrifically scarred for life due to man’s greed for the rhino horn, which has no greater properties than a human fingernail.
Tori’s paintings will be displayed at Cornflake’s ‘Smart App-artment’, Windmill Street, London and can also be viewed below. To arrange a viewing or purchase, please either contact Tori directly through email at toriratcliffe@hotmail.co.uk or alternatively, contact Cornflake directly on +44 (0)020 323 4554.
To find out more about Helping Rhinos, please visit:
http://www.helpingrhinos.org/