210 ELEPHANTS AND RHINOCEROS

Int. Zoo Yb. (2006) 40: 210–217 © The Zoological Society of London

The EAZA Rhino Campaign

C. DEAN1 &C.A.BOS2 1Director, Save the Rhino International, 16 Winchester Walk, London SE1 9AQ, United Kingdom, and 2Manager, EAZA Membership Services & Accreditation and Coordinator EAZA Conservation Campaigns, EAZA Executive Office, PO Box 20164, 1000 HD Amsterdam, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]

Each year the European Association of Zoos and of the necessity for conservation and by Aquaria (EAZA) co-ordinates a year-long fund- actively participating in and providing raising and awareness campaign, focusing on a parti- cular taxa or conservation issue. Rhinoceros species support to in situ and ex situ conservation have been chosen as the subject of the current cam- projects worldwide (EAZA, 2005a). paign, which runs from September 2005 until The EAZA Rhino Campaign is the fifth October 2006. A fundraising target of Euros 350 000 in a series of year-long fundraising and has been set and 100% of the funds raised will be donated to in situ rhinoceros-conservation projects. awareness conservation campaigns, Save the Rhino International, a UK-registered focusing on a particular taxa or conser- charity, is working jointly with EAZA to develop vation issue. The EAZA Bushmeat Cam- and run the EAZA Rhino Campaign. paign, which started in September 2000, was the first and since then the South Key-words: awareness raising, EAZA, education, fundraising, in situ conservation, rhinoceros American Atlantic Rainforest, tigers, and turtles and tortoises (Shellshock) have been the focal topics (Table 2). To date, On 7 September 2005 the European the EAZA Tiger Campaign has been the Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) most successful in financial terms, with launched the EAZA Rhino Campaign at over Euros 750 000 raised over a 2 year their annual conference in Bath, UK. At period (the Campaign was extended) and the beginning of the 20th century there 133 EAZA members participated (EAZA, were an estimated half a million rhino- 2006). The initial fundraising target for ceros in the wild. By the beginning of the Shellshock was set at Euros 150 000 but 1970s this had reduced to c. 70 000 and, preliminary results show that the 120 at time of writing, the total world rhino- EAZA members, and several non-EAZA ceros population numbers Q18 000 member participants, raised over (IUCN, 2004; http://www.eaza.net; http:// Euros 300 000 (Bos, 2005, 2006). www.rhinos-irf.org) (Table 1). EAZA is a truly pan-European organ- Objectives The EAZA Rhino Campaign ization with over 300 members in 34 coun- provides the opportunity to reach 125 mil- tries in Europe and the Middle East. More lion annual visitors to EAZA member than 125 million people visit the zoos and institutions (EAZA, 2005a). The aim is to aquariums that are members of EAZA raise a minimum of Euros 350 000 and to annually. EAZA represents and links involve at least 150 EAZA member European zoos and aquariums in order to institutions. maintain or increase the standards of Education departments in zoos these institutions. EAZA zoos and aquar- generally create programmes relevant to iums play a vital role in conservation by their own collections and audiences. They promoting an increase in public awareness provide information packs that include EAZA RHINO CAMPAIGN 211

species no. iucn status surviving

Javan rhinoceros Rhinoceros sondaicus 600 Critically Endangered

Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis 300 Critically Endangered

Greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis 2400 Endangered

Black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis 3600 Critically Endangered

White rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum 11,100 Near Threatened

Table 1. The conservation status of the five remaining rhinoceros species in the wild. Information from EAZA (www.eaza.net) and IUCN (www.redlist.org) (see also Amin, Thomas et al., this volume). facts, images and suggestions for educa- For many people in Europe, the USA, tional activities but, in reality, it is imposs- South America or Australia, their only ible to address all the demands of different contact with rhinoceros species is via tele- national curricula. In addition, such edu- vision. Natural-history programmes cation programmes only reach people who invariably describe the appearance and are already interested enough in wildlife behaviour of animals but any viewer that to have visited their local zoo. However, has not been to sub-Saharan Africa, for there are millions more people who are example, may believe that the area is a not aware of the conservation efforts vast safari park, with no mobile-phone being made to preserve wild animals in masts, tarmac roads, traffic, litter or their natural habitat. pylons. Often no mention is made of the

EAZA Bushmeat Campaign 2000–2001 149 participants

EAZA Rainforest Campaign 2001–2002 100 participants

EAZA Tiger Campaign 2002–2004 133 participants

EAZA Turtle and Tortoise Campaign ‘Shellshock’ 2004–2005 120 participants

EAZA Rhino Campaign 2005–2006 target: 150 participants

Table 2. Since 2000 EAZA has co-ordinated year-long fundraising and awareness campaigns. The EAZA Tiger Campaign was extended to 2 years. EAZA had c. 250 zoo and aquarium members over the period 2000–2005 and other conservation groups, such as zoo associations or NGOs, also participate in the campaigns. 212 ELEPHANTS AND RHINOCEROS

species no. no. participating eep co-ordinator 7.8 institutions

White rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum 84.123 63 Dr Kristina Tomasova, Dvur Kralove Zoo, Czech Republic Black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis 29.51 16 Dr med. vet. Andreas Ochs, Zoologischer Garten Berlin, Germany Greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis 15.22 14 Dr Olivier Pagan & Ms Beatrice Steck, Zoo Basel, Switzerland

Table 3. The numbers of the three rhinoceros species kept in the framework of the EEP breeding programme in Europe as at 1 January 2004. fact that iconic species, such as Cheetahs 4. The Campaign Info Pack was pro- Acinonyx jubatus or Black rhinoceros duced for distribution to all EAZA mem- Diceros bicornis, are Vulnerable and Criti- bers. However, by also making it freely cally Endangered, respectively (IUCN, available to zoos and conservation NGOs 2004), and there is little or no discussion (non-governmental organizations) in of the reasons why such species are threat- rhinoceros range countries, they may be ened or details of what can be done to able to enhance signage, displays and edu- save them and their natural habitats. cation programmes in their own institu- The Black rhinoceros and White rhino- tions and networks. ceros Ceratotherium simum are indigenous 5. The Campaign will help to publicize to to Africa, while the Greater one-horned visitors the immensely valuable work car- or Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis ried out by many zoos and NGOs in the originates from the Indian sub-continent. field. Many people have never heard of the Javan rhinoceros Rhinoceros sondaicus Participation The key to the success of and Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus the EAZA Rhino Campaign will be the sumatrensis, both found in Asia (see also active participation of as many EAZA Amin, Thomas et al., this volume). members as possible and, in turn, the ability of those members to engage the Benefits By educating, raising awareness attention of the general public. However, and fundraising, the EAZA Rhino Cam- there are some obstacles to achieving this; paign will produce a number of benefits. for example, it may be difficult to engage 1. A wide range of in situ rhinoceros con- institutions, such as aquariums, that do servation projects will benefit financially not maintain large terrestrial mammals. In from the resulting grants. fact only c. 90 of the 296 EAZA members 2. The Campaign will enable more zoos (number of EAZA members at the start to become involved in field projects, of the campaign) maintain one or more of especially those that may not have the the three species currently kept as part of resources to do this independently. EAZA’s European Endangered species 3. The links forged between the benefi- Programmes (EEPs) in Europe (De Man ciary field projects and the participating et al., 2005) (Table 3). zoos have the potential to become longer Although rhinoceros species have term, involving not only financial support always been popular with visitors, they but also the exchange of expertise and also have an unjustified reputation for experience. aggression, they do not cohabit in family EAZA RHINO CAMPAIGN 213 groups and they are not ‘furry’. In chil- rhinoceros be lost but also the Sumatran dren’s literature and films, rhinoceros are orang-utans Pongo pygmaeus abelii, often portrayed as aggressive. It would Sumatran tigers Panthera tigris sumatrae appear that the greatest hazard during the and other Endangered or Critically construction of the Nairobi–Mombasa Endangered species that share the habitat. railway was territorial 7 Black rhinoceros By broadening the EAZA Rhino Cam- derailing steam trains with endless fre- paign to the birds, reptiles, invertebrates quency (Beard, 1988). and other mammals that co-exist with A two-pronged approach was used to rhinoceros, more zoos may discover that encourage zoos to sign up for the EAZA they have a link between their collections Rhino Campaign. First, EAZA members and the Campaign. and other zoos around the world, were Second, the general public, even those encouraged to focus on the rhinoceros as who do not visit zoos, should be made an umbrella or flagship species. These aware of how the rhinoceros is relevant to species share habitats and are sympatric them. If television does not raise aware- with a wide range of birds and other ness of the need for conservation, then mammals. For example, the Cheetah other ways of making a connection must needs wide-open spaces of grassland in be made; for example, either via an easily which to hunt. The Black rhinoceros identifiable ‘character’ or through formal browses on the Acacia Acacia spp scrub, and informal education programmes. In which keeps the brush at a low level. If the EAZA Shellshock Campaign ‘Oscar’ the Black rhinoceros dies out in a region, the turtle was kindly made available by then the Acacia spp will grow more Aardman Animations as a campaign thickly and the Cheetah will not be able mascot. Save the Rhino International to hunt and so they may die out too. (SRI) had previously persuaded Aardman Although it is more complicated than this Animations to make a model of a rhino- the story illustrates the vital interdepen- ceros called ‘Douglas’ for a fundraising dencies of species. auction and permission to adopt Douglas Rhinoceros face the same threats, pri- as the mascot for the EAZA Rhino Cam- marily poaching and habitat loss, as many paign was secured. land- and marine-based species. If the illegal logging of rainforests in Sumatra Organization In order to deliver a suc- continues, then not only will Sumatran cessful EAZA Rhino Campaign, a Core

campaign organizers Corinne Bos EAZA Executive Office, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (supported by Martijn Los) Renaud Fulconis SRI, London, UK campaign core group Cathy Dean SRI, London, UK Susanne Toft Henriksen Givskud Zoo, Give, Denmark Friederike von Houwald Basel Zoo, Switzerland Nick Lindsay* ZSL, London, UK Kristina Tomasova Dvur Kralove Zoo, Czech Republic Jake Veasey Woburn Safari Park, UK

* Chair. Table 4. The organizers and core group created for the EAZA Rhino Campaign 2005–2006 have developed and prepared the Campaign and will oversee its successful running: EAZA. European Association of Zoos and Aquaria; SRI. Save The Rhino International. 214 ELEPHANTS AND RHINOCEROS

Group was formed. Chaired by Nick The Zoological Society of London in the Lindsay of ZSL, the group also included UK, and with the International Rhino Corinne Bos, Kristina Tomasova, Fried- Foundation (IRF) in the USA. SRI is erike von Houwald, Susanne Toft, Jake working with EAZA as the European Veasey and Cathy Dean (Table 4). partner for the EAZA Rhino Campaign. Renaud Fulconis was recruited as a full- time Rhino Campaign Manager. SELECTING BENEFICIARY PROJECTS The Campaign was supported by SRI, By 16 May 2005 requests for support were a UK-registered charity with the mission received from over 50 in situ conservation to ensure the survival of rhinoceros projects and the EAZA Rhino Taxon species in the wild. The charity works in Advisory Group (TAG), and African and close consultation with managers and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups (RSGs) communities in wildlife areas and pro- collaborated to chose 13 projects for vides direct support for rhinoceros and financial support from the funds raised community-based conservation projects in through the Campaign (Table 5). A Africa and Asia. SRI aims to provide a ‘waiting list’ of eight additional projects secure environment for rhinoceros species, was also created, in case the fundraising thereby ensuring the survival of numerous target of Euros 350 000 was exceeded. The other species that share their habitat. aim is to support a wide range of in situ (SRI, 2005) conservation projects relating to all five Co-operation has many benefits and rhinoceros species and their natural habi- EAZA and SRI work closely with many tats, and all the relevant issues affecting organizations, such as Chester Zoo and them. Projects are expected to result in a

Kenya Rhino monitoring equipment for N.P. monitoring

Kenya Environmental education programme environmental education

Zambia Re-establishment of black rhinos anti-poaching, monitoring

Zimbabwe Lifting crane for rhino capture translocations

Namibia Rhino translocation equipment translocations

South Africa Rhino security equipment funding anti-poaching, monitoring

N/a Horn-fingerprinting project research

Yemen Combating the illegal trade for the horn research

India Indian rhino vision 2020 strategy, translocations

India Conservation and strategy to reduce poaching anti-poaching, research

Indonesia Protection units for Javan and Sumatran rhinos anti-poaching, monitoring

Malaysia Establishment of two additional protection units anti-poaching, monitoring

Malaysia Enhanced community outreach programme community-based conservation

Table 5. Thirteen in situ conservation projects, in nine countries, were selected to benefit from the funds generated by the EAZA Rhino Campaign. Further information can be found at www.eaza.net, www.savetherhino.org and www.rhinocampaign.net EAZA RHINO CAMPAIGN 215 tangible contribution to conservation of the funds raised by the Campaign. Should rhinoceros species in the wild. Proposals the target of Euros 350 000 be exceeded included requests for support for capital then a list of the eight ‘waiting-list’ pro- purchases, ongoing revenue costs and jects that may be supported is also given. grants that would give leverage to attract other funding. The EAZA Rhino Cam- Section 5 Merchandise: details of ‘Save paign made a policy not to fund any MSc the Rhinos’ merchandise that can be sold or PhD research projects, or rhino con- in souvenir shops as a way to raise funds servation activities outside range coun- for the Campaign. tries, unless they specifically addressed the illegal trade in, or demand for, rhinoceros Section 6 Reference sources: including horn. details of the Campaign web site, Rhino Resource Centre and a bibliography. INFO PACK The information pack comprises a printed RECRUITING BEYOND EAZA document and CD-rom, containing a rich It is also a priority to engage the interest resource of information and images, of zoos beyond EAZA membership. There which participating EAZA member insti- were early expressions of interest from the tutions can use to put together their own American Zoo and Aquarium Association fundraising, education and awareness- (AZA) and from the Australasian raising campaigns (EAZA, 2005b) Regional Association of Zoological Parks (Plate 1). The printed document is divided and Aquaria (ARAZPA), and contacts into six sections. were also made with, and Campaign materials made available to, various other Section 1 Campaign guidelines: all the regional zoo associations. A parallel cam- necessary information on how to partici- paign is being co-ordinated by the IRF in pate in the EAZA Rhino Campaign, the USA (www.rhinos-irf.org) in co- including practical and legal guidelines. operation with the AZA Rhino TAG and various rhinoceros Species Survival Plans Section 2 Awareness, education and (SSPs). fundraising: gives reasons for partici- If members of other zoo associations pation, and outlines formal and informal adopt the EAZA Rhino Campaign then education activities, and some fundraising the fundraising capability will be ideas. increased substantially and more field pro- jects could be supported. Although zoos Section 3 Rhino information: provides in rhinoceros range countries are not information on the natural history of the asked to fundraise they have been sup- five rhinoceros species, including physical plied with the Info Pack, which will pro- characteristics, location and habitat, and vide useful information, images and threats to survival. Details are also given educational materials to them. on the ways in which in situ conservation projects can address these problems and CONCLUSION how community-based conservation pro- All zoos have their own fundraising goals grammes can help in the development of for projects, such as building new enclo- sustainable methods of creatively man- sures, ongoing maintenance and animal aging natural resources. Lists of sympatric feed, and also commitments to existing species are also provided. field projects that need continuous sup- port. However, the extinction of the Criti- Section 4 Beneficiary projects: abstracts cally Endangered Northern white of the 13 projects that will benefit from rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum cottoni, 216 ELEPHANTS AND RHINOCEROS

Plate 1. The EAZA Rhino Campaign 2005/6 Info Pack. © EAZA Rhino Campaign, Designed by 23red, London, UK. with only ten animals remaining in the and range of all rhinoceros species and wild in 2005, seems inevitable. What will subspecies. be next on the extinction list? With only c. 300 Sumatran rhinoceros in Indonesia ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and Malaysia, and possibly only three to Our thanks to Nick Lindsay, International Zoo Pro- five individuals of the Western black grammes, Zoological Society of London, for his assistance with this article, and to Koen Brouwer, rhinoceros Diceros bicornis longipes in Executive Director, European Association of Zoos Cameroon, there is a responsibility to do and Aquaria, for his continuous support in making whatever possible to conserve the habitat the campaigns possible over the years. EAZA RHINO CAMPAIGN 217

REFERENCES EAZA (2005a): EAZA brochure. Amsterdam: EAZA Beard, P. (1988): The end of the game. London: Executive Office. EAZA Thames & Hudson. (2005b): EAZA rhino campaign 2005/6. Info Bos, C. A. (2005): Review of EAZA conservation Pack. Amsterdam: EAZA Executive Office. EAZA campaigns: a success story! In Proceedings of (2006): Spectacular final fundraising results. ARAZPA/SEAZA annual conference, Melbourne. EAZA News 53: 5. IUCN Parkville, Victoria: Zoos Victoria. (2004): 2004 IUCN red list of threatened Bos, C. A. (2006): How to get the public interested species. Gland and Cambridge: IUCN. http:// in (zoo supported) conservation and sustainability: www.redlist.org SRI (2005): Save the Rhino International annual the EAZA conservation campaigns. In Proceedings report April 2004–March 2005. London: SRI. of the 5th international conference on zoo marketing and public relations, Mu¨nster, 1–4 June 2005: 62–65. Bern: WAZA/EAZA. De Man, D., van Lint, W., Garn, K., Hiddinga, Manuscript submitted 15 April 2005; B. & Brouwer, K. (2005): EAZA yearbook 2003. accepted 13 February 2006; revised Amsterdam: EAZA Executive Office. 3 March 2006