The zoo's animal of the month is the white rhino

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Get to the zoo, and help save the rhino Joburg Zoo has planned a fabulous holiday treat - a Rhino Conservation Challenge. Children can become rhino trainers or vets for the day, catch poachers, or simply have some healthy outdoors fun. April 7, 2006 By Thabang Mokoka JOHANNESBURG Zoo is going all out to save the rhinos on Saturday, 8 April, as part of the international Save the Rhino campaign. It is the first zoo in Africa to join the initiative, a project of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (Eaza) and Save the Rhino International (SRI). Exciting activities have been planned to make for a memorable day filled with educational entertainment. According to the Joburg Zoo website, the campaign aims to raise international awareness of the threats rhinos face and to promote protection of these endangered animals. Secondly, it aims to raise funds for selected rhino conservation projects in Asia and Africa. "A rhino silhouette has been erected next to the rhino enclosure for people to write their special rhino messages for a donation of R50 or more. Donations will also be taken during rhino talks given by the keepers," it reads. Visit the Johannesburg Zoo on Saturday and help save the rhinos One of the vets at the zoo, Dr Michelle Barrows, says that South Africa has done more than any other country to help the rhino, "specifically the southern white rhino, whose numbers have risen to the point where they are no longer in danger". Among the activities for children at the Rhino Conservation Challenge, are the opportunity to become a rhino ranger or rhino vet, catching a poacher, touching a rhino, taking part in a treasure hunt, storytelling, games and competitions, face painting, tattoos, and demonstrations by the Metro Police unit. While their children are kept busy, parents can relax at the rhino tea garden. They can also support the Save the Rhino campaign by buying T-shirts or rhino mascots. The Rhino Conservation Challenge is on Saturday, 8 April, from 10am to 3pm. Entrance for adults is R32 and for children it is R19. The Johannesburg Zoo is on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Upper Park Drive, in Parkview. The main entrance is on Upper Park Drive, Forest Town. For more information, contact the zoo on 011 646 2000. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za