Pedaling Against Poaching by Jeff Harrison

It is hard to believe how quickly 2021 has flown by! many miles, many smiles, and many open projects on the ground in Africa. One very important project of late is focused on Rhino Strongholds. Rhino Strongholds are areas that provide the best possible security to reduce the risk of poaching and are large enough to allow the rhino to demonstrate natural behaviours, including migration between territories and genetically diverse breeding, without the need for hands on intervention by humans.

The largest rhino population in the world, found in Kruger National Park in South Africa, has decreased by over 60% in the last ten years. Building on a decade of active rhino conservation across Africa, Helping Rhinos has a vision to reverse this trend and ensure a safe and reproductive future for rhino by creating 'Rhino Strongholds'.

Continuing to work predominantly in Africa, the goal is to expand wild spaces by working with local communities to restore degraded land and create wildlife corridors.

Local communities will be integral to the success of Rhino Strongholds, which will provide employment opportunities and engage local people in wildlife conservation through education programmes and initiatives that improve livelihoods.

Rhino Strongholds will have a rich biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem that benefits a wide variety of both fauna and flora species. The areas will have scope to increase in size through the restoration of degraded habitat and the dropping of fences between already established wildlife areas. Updates for this project can be found on the helpingrhinos.org website.

As 2020 ends, and 2021 begins, we are doing our very best to remain positive and committed to the Pedaling Against Poaching project.

I have logged more than 700 miles on the bike year to date, and I am on track for my goal of >5000 miles for the year. Fundraising has been a challenge this past year, and I have been working on ways to get creative.

A small group of like minded mountain bikers decided to dig out all of the spare bike parts that they have laying around the garage, and we auctioned them all off online, and 100% of the sales were rolled into a donation that I processed through this GlobalGiving account. it was a much needed spike, and much appreciated by the folks that are working so hard on the ground, protecting, and caring for these amazing Rhinos.

Remember, that every dollar helps. Please give if you can, and make sure to spread the word. updates to follow will have a focus on the 2021 stats from the field. 

As 2020 continues on, we are doing our very best to remain positive and committed to the Pedaling Against Poaching project. I have logged more than 4400 miles on the bike year to date, and I am on track for my goal of >5000 miles for the year.

Fundraising has been a challenge this year, and I have been working on ways to get creative. A small group of like-minded mountain bikers decided to dig out all of the spare bike parts that they have laying around the garage, and we auctioned them all off online, and 100% of the sales were rolled into a donation that I processed through this GlobalGiving account. It was a much needed spike, and much appreciated by the folks that are working so hard on the ground, protecting, and caring for these amazing Rhinos.

As we approach the Holidays, I wish you all a SAFE and Healthy Holiday Season. Remember, that every dollar helps. Please give if you can, and make sure to spread the word. updates to follow will have a focus on the 202 stats from the field. 

Thank you all for the ongoing support!

We are all experiencing difficult times, globally right now. Pedaling Against Poaching is dedicated to push forward through the choppy waters. Although fundraising has been tough over the past few months, we have still seen some much needed movement from both new, and repeat loyal supporters.