Young SA environmentalist raises R250 000 to create rhino poaching awareness

22 August 2018 12:26 PM

10-year old environmental hero, Hunter Mitchell was recently given the International Young Eco-Hero award by the environmental organisation Action for Nature.

In 2016, Mitchell helped taking care of a baby rhino that was rejected by its mother.

In the short space of two weeks, he raised over R6000, which went towards the feeding of the calf which was later named Osita.

Hunter has never stopped caring for the rhinos and creating awareness against poaching. To date, he has raised R250 000 which goes towards creating awareness against rhino poaching.

I normally talk to schools and inspire other kids by helping them learn about the poaching crisis and if I'm lucky they kindly give me a donation of money for the rhinos. Companies around the world and in South Africa want to help me in what I'm doing because what I'm doing right now as a child is very inspiring.
— Hunter Mitchell, Young environmentalist

Hunter has since started his own foundation "Raise a baby Rhino with Hunter" which speaks to young adults who might be lured by kingpins to poach rhino horns.

It is normally young adults who are forced into poaching and if a child can educate them about the beauty of a rhino, they would not accept the money and just walk away from the bad people.
— Hunter Mitchell, Young environmentalist

To help Hunter raise awareness on rhino poaching to visit his Facebook where he outlines all the activities he has planned and how they can take part in them.

To hear the rest of the conversation with Hunter Mitchell, listen below:

Written by: Lengwadishang Ramphele