Hastings 1066 met at Freezeland Farm for their Annual General Meeting in June. Baroness Fookes DBE DL the President, welcomed members and proceeded with the business of the meeting. Chairman Rita Macdonald and the committee were elected. After a wonderful lunch in the garden provided by Margaret Van Draat, we were treated to a fascinating talk by Berry White concerning saving Rhinos. Berry had worked with John Aspinal and his staff at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park.
Port Lympne was purchased by John Aspinal in 1973 to solve the lack of space at Howletts Wild Animal Park. Berry had developed a great interest and relationship with Rhinos and in June 2012, as a Rhino Keeper, flew with other staff to the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary in Tanzania. They transported three black Rhinos to the sanctuary. A BBC film crew filmed the translocation for World News and the Today Programme. There are five species of Rhinoceros – Sumatran, Javan, Black, Greater one-horned, and white. Rhinos are endangered due to poaching for rhino horns, habitat loss, natural disasters and disease. Save the Rhino Trust works to conserve all five rhino species by supporting rhino conservation programmes across Africa and Asia.
This story was submitted by the ESU Hastings branch. Please click here for information on this branch and its upcoming events.
