The Rhino Charge, an annual off-road motorsport competition, 2020 has been cancelled, the first time in its 32 year history.
The competition had been scheduled for 19 October.
However, the Rhino Charge Committee and the Rhino Ark Board of Directors cancelled it citing the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing associated risks.
The next Rhino Charge will, therefore, be held on Sunday, 30 May 2021.
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“This decision has been taken with great regret,” comments Christian Lambrechts, Executive Director of Rhino Ark.
“Funds raised by the Charge provide a vital part of our annual budget and our work, which is so critical for the conservation of Kenya’s mountain forests and water towers. It is essential that our work continues without interruption.”
Lambrechts says, “The Rhino Chargers have been remarkable benefactors for Rhino Ark over the years. They have invested over Sh1.6 billion in conservation and have helped build 650 kms of electric fence.”
These fences protect 80,000 families from the dangers of human-wildlife conflicts in the Aberdares, Mount Kenya and Mau Eburu. They also protect critical mountain forests that are the water towers of Kenya.
They are the source of major rivers that provide the much-needed water to Nairobi, one of the key contributors to Kenya’s GDP. These rivers support the livelihoods of millions of households in rural areas. They are also the lifeline of key conservation and tourism areas downstream.
“Keeping our fences well maintained and fully operational is critical for the communities farming at the forest edge, the conservation of these vital ecosystems a
