- This Heritage Month One Land Love It Calls South Africans to Action for World Rhino Day
- Heritage Month campaign rallies communities to protect rhinos through action, creativity and collaboration.
As World Rhino Day approaches on 22 September 2026, during Heritage Month, One Land Love It (OLLI) based in the Eastern Cape with a national footprint, is rallying communities across South Africa to take the vital step in moving from just caring to doing for our rhinos. #OLLIMove
“Rhino conservation is not the responsibility of a few – it is the calling of a nation. At OLLI, we believe civic action is the only antidote to extinction. Every person has the ability to contribute – whether through awareness, advocacy or direct support. Ordinary people, when united in purpose, become extraordinary. If we each take one step, together we create a movement that ensures rhinos remain a living symbol of hope, not a relic of loss.” Wayne Bolton, Founder of One Land Love It
The Crisis
South Africa is home to the majority of the world’s rhinos yet poaching and habitat loss continue to drive them toward extinction. Despite ongoing conservation efforts, rhino populations remain under severe threat, with poaching syndicates exploiting demand for horn and leaving devastating impacts on ecosystems and communities.
We cannot afford rhino fatigue or complacency and although some provinces, such as the Eastern Cape, are showing encouraging progress, others are being hammered – with the Kruger National Park under serious duress. “While the collaborative efforts of many people and organisations in the Eastern Cape are to be commended because we can show good progress in our anti-poaching efforts down here, we do so knowing full well that the syndicates operating in the north will turn their attention on the Eastern Cape sometime. Being prepared for that is where our priorities now lie and more than ever we need to be more vigilant, better funded and collaborate at higher levels in order to avert the tragedies of the north coming to haunt us down here in the south.” Dr William Fowlds – Wildlife Veterinarian and Conservationist.
Why We Can Change the Trajectory
From direct rhino support, conservation community engagement (communities bordering parks) and education to raising awareness, OLLI steps in where there is a need, doing what they can to protect our rhinos.
Since 2014, OLLI has proudly partnered with Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, supporting their extraordinary mission to rescue, rehabilitate and rewild orphaned rhino calves – many rescued from the Kruger National Park. Behind most calves lies a harrowing story, yet through the dedication of Care for Wild’s team, these vulnerable animals have been nurtured back to life. The ultimate success is seen in calves that once had to be taught to drink from a river now thriving as mothers themselves.
OLLI’s involvement has included providing nutrition, teats, ranger packs, sponsoring anti poaching unit training and most recently funding the extension of a black rhino camp. A small crash of orphaned rhinos is now being introduced into the greater reserve, where close monitoring ensures they adapt to the terrain and vegetation before their final release.
“The word moving means action! Through action and lots of fun OLLI has been part of Care for Wild for the last 12 years. We value this partnership and collaboration highly and I hope each and every person reading this article feels the drive and love to move for our iconic rhinos. The energy of the OLLI team is truly inspiring. Rhinos must be a symbol of hope not crisis. Let’s move!” Petronel Nieuwoudt – Founder Care for Wild.
In addition, OLLI has supported the Kruger National Park’s Veterinary Wildlife Services Laboratory by funding urgent servicing required ahead of its accreditation audit. This support helped ensure the continued accreditation of the Kruger Veterinary Wildlife Services Laboratory and the Biobank, one of the world’s largest and most significant repositories of African wildlife biological samples and genetic material – part of the national Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa network. The Biobank is a critical resource supporting scientific research, wildlife management and conservation, as well as landmark prosecutions in which DNA evidence, excluding rhino horn, has contributed to securing convictions against wildlife poachers. “By supporting the Veterinary Wildlife Services Laboratory and Biobank, OLLI is helping safeguard a resource that will continue to support science, conservation, wildlife management and the protection of our natural heritage for generations to come.” Dr Lufuno Netshitavhadulu – Senior Manager: Veterinary Wildlife Services, Kruger National Park.
In a park facing relentless poaching pressures, OLLI is grateful to everyone who contributes to their fundraising efforts. This support has enabled them to address an important area of concern and in doing so, help ensure that Kruger’s dedicated veterinary and conservation teams can continue their vital work on the frontline of wildlife protection.
Another resource OLLI provides is direct protection. This includes AI-enabled tracking collars, infrastructure support and specialised services such as helicopter assistance in difficult terrain and veterinary expertise. OLLI has also recently assisted a reserve with resources for a newly introduced black rhino crash. While details cannot be disclosed for security reasons, these interventions would not be possible without the support they receive.
Just as vital, OLLI represents and empowers ordinary people by providing opportunities to tangibly make a difference. Through Challenges, events and collaborative initiatives, individuals are given a pathway to act – transforming concern into meaningful impact and ensuring that every voice and every step counts for rhino conservation.
These milestones prove that collaboration works. With collective action, we can change the trajectory for rhinos.
How Can You MOVE from caring to doing?
On the OLLIMove website (www.move.oneland.co.za), the Challenges section reminds us that each person has a voice and a choice. Whether through raising awareness, physically moving or joining collective campaigns, everyone can contribute. Register for free and make your voice count. Collaboration is key, but it begins with the individual – taking the first step and inspiring others to follow.
The Lead-Up Events
To build momentum toward World Rhino Day, OLLI has created a series of engaging initiatives where people can unite, move and make a difference:
- Keep on Moving Challenge (September | Global) – Let’s make rhino go viral! Open to everyone – from individuals to schools, corporates and clubs. Video or photograph your OLLIMove, set it to the song “Break My Stride” (Matthew Wilder), tag OLLI and challenge others to join you.
- Hayterdale Classic Trail Run & MTB Ride for Rhinos (12 & 13 September | EC) – Athletes and families come together in sport, demonstrating through physical movement that together we can drive meaningful change.
- OLLIArtMove (22 September | Gqeberha) – Launching on World Rhino Day at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Art Museum, this exhibition showcases children’s art alongside professional works, empowering the next generation to use creativity as activism and celebrate rhinos.
- Chant Challenge (September | Global) – Voices raised in unison become a powerful tool for awareness, reminding us that advocacy can be loud, joyful and contagious.
The Call to Action
We can all make a difference. It begins with me, with you, with each of us choosing to act. Challenge your friends, family, colleagues, clubs and schools to join in. Together, we can ensure that extinction is not our legacy.
One Land Love It exists to inspire this shift – from passive concern to active participation. By moving from caring to doing, we safeguard not only the rhino but also the values of courage, collaboration and hope that define us.
Let’s take the first step. Let’s move for our rhinos.
Members of the public can report any suspicious activities around wildlife to the environmental crime hotline which is 0800 205 005 or the SAPS number 10111.
One Land Love It NPC uses funds raised through donations to further the fight against wildlife crime. To donate or find out more, visit www.move.oneland.co.za
“We do not want to say we stood by and watched as the rhino became extinct in our lifetime – we urgently need to move from caring to doing!” OLLI
