This campaign was made possible by the announcement of a historical joint collaboration between South African National Parks (SANParks), Bavaria 0.0% and South Africa's Big 5 Retailers - Woolworths, Spar, Shoprite Checkers, Massmart and Pick 'n Pay.
"As the custodian and sanctuary for the majority of Africa's rhino population, and 91% of the world rhino population, it is distressing to report that with the exception for the Honorary Rangers' initiatives during 2012, SANParks has not received a cent from independent rhino fund-raisers this year. We are in a crisis situation that requires funding for expert human and technical resources," SANParks CEO, Dr David Mabunda, said.
"This historical joint collaboration brings hope to the crisis. All money will be held in a ring-fenced trust fund that is managed by Rand Merchant Bank under the audit of the National Treasury. The trust fund will also be made available to any rhino conservancy that applies for assistance to ensure that we are able to help as many rhino as possible," Mabunda said.
Bavaria 0.0% is more than just a brewery and has shown its commitment to ensuring that the rhino is preserved for future generations by being the enabler of the Adopt So Our Rhinos Don't Die campaign. This decision falls directly in line with Bavaria's intrinsic value of 0.0% tolerance to rhino poaching, the illegal killing of any wildlife or humankind and to drinking and driving.
"The plight of the rhino really touched me. This is about keeping your identity and national pride alive," said Stijn Swinkels, family board member of Bavaria Brewery. "It is about future existence. If we can deploy something as simple as our product's reach and accessibility to make people stop and think about this, then I want to stand up for that."
Bavaria 0.0% has extended the reach of the campaign into South Africa's Big 5 leading retail chains and as front-runners to the consumer, each retailer will create the adoption 'route' for the public. From every purchase of any six-pack of Bavaria regular or fruit flavoured malt drinks, both the Big 5 Retailers and Bavaria will match a massive margin sacrifice to fund the consumer's adoption certificate cost and this money will go directly into the SANParks ring-fenced rhino fund.
Swinkels adds, "We were so touched by the rhino plight, that the cause became greater than our risk to enter a new market and sacrifice our profit margin. We would like to thank the Big 5 Retailers for joining us in this collaboration in aid of the rhino, who is the real hero."
Ivan Oertle, Woolworths specialist buyer, commented: "We at Woolworths have always believed in doing the right thing and in this case it is collaborating with Bavaria, SANParks and our competitors to bring hope to the world's last remaining wild rhino population. Never before has saving the rhino been done in a way that is so easy, such fun and so safe."
"I would like to applaud SANParks, Dr David Mabunda and of course Bavaria 0.0% for what is undoubtedly and hopefully an initiative which will go a long way in protecting one of our country's very rare and threatened assets and a part of our heritage," Mark Robinson, group liquor manager at Spar said. "Hopefully this will make a meaningful contribution to the protection of our rhino and we thank you for including us in this initiative."
"This is a fantastic initiative by Bavaria 0.0%. We are pleased to join other retailers in assisting SANParks to make a difference in the fight against rhino poaching," added Jonathan Koff, Makro liquor executive at Massmart.
