This is why the Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary is so important.
It’s named after 11-year-old Shiloh Jolie-Pitt who was born in Namibia (side note: remember all that CRAZINESS?? The arrival of the world’s “most genetically blessed baby” was causing such an international media frenzy, Brad and Angelina ended up selling the first photos of Shiloh for US$4.1million to People Magazine and donating all the money to benefit African children.) and she recently returned to her birthplace with her famous mum for the sanctuary’s opening.
Posted with permission from N/a’an ku sê Foundation
Dr Rudie van Vuuren, founder of the N/a’an ku sê Foundation which operates the Sanctuary, says “animals are usually injured in poaching incidents. So, it can be an adult with gunshot wounds, or a calf whose mother has been shot.”
Once they have recovered and are strong enough to live in the wild, the rhinos and elephants are set free again.
Dr Rudie van Vuuren (right) pictured with his wife Marlice (left), founders of N/a’an ku sê Fondation which operates the Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary
- It’s estimated 216 black and white rhinos have been killed since 2013,
- and 266 elephants have been killed in the same time frame.
- According to Namibia’s Department of Environment and Tourism, there were 222 arrests relating to poaching offences last year, many were high profile people including businessmen and government officials.
Dr van Vuuren agrees the problem is huge but believes the Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary, being the first facility of its kind to focus on rehabilitation after poaching incidents, will save the lives of many animals. He says, “last year, 5 rhinos died because no care was possible.”
If you’d like to help Dr Rudie and Marlice van Vuuren continue their amazing work, you can make a donation to the N/a’an ku sê Foundation here.
