Horns of a dilemma: retiree to fly 80 South African rhinos to Australia

A retired South African sales executive who emigrated to Australia 30 years ago is hatching a daring plan to airlift 80 rhinos to his adopted country in an attempt to save the species from poachers.

Flying each animal on the 11,000-kilometre journey will cost about $A60,500, but Ray Dearlove believes the expense and risk is essential as poaching deaths have soared in recent years.

The rhinos will be relocated to a safari park in Australia, which is being kept secret for security reasons, where they will become a “seed bank” to breed future generations.

“Our grand plan is to move 80 over a four-year period. We think that will provide the nucleus of a good breeding herd,” Dearlove said while visiting South Africa to organise for the first batch to be flown out.

The Australian Rhino Project, which the 68-year-old founded in 2013, hopes to take six rhinos to their new home before the end of the year.

Funding – from private and corporate sources – is nearly in place, and the first rhinos have been selected from animals kept on private reserves in South Africa.

Assuming it’s only white rhinos and not black rhinos?

and probably christian too.

poikilotherm said:

Assuming it’s only white rhinos and not black rhinos?

You racist

:)

this is a great project, hopefully they will be able to keep out the poachers. The less corrupt (yes, I’m optimistic) security guards and stricter rules on export will give them a chance at least.

Arts said:

this is a great project, hopefully they will be able to keep out the poachers. The less corrupt (yes, I’m optimistic) security guards and stricter rules on export will give them a chance at least.

It will be more difficult to export that stuff from Australia. Like you say better governance here, but also the illegal trade networks in Australia don’t exist yet. Also it would pretty damn obvious where you got it from if caught.

party_pants said:

Arts said:

this is a great project, hopefully they will be able to keep out the poachers. The less corrupt (yes, I’m optimistic) security guards and stricter rules on export will give them a chance at least.

It will be more difficult to export that stuff from Australia. Like you say better governance here, but also the illegal trade networks in Australia don’t exist yet. Also it would pretty damn obvious where you got it from if caught.

sir, is that a rhino horn in your pocket…?

party_pants said:

Arts said:

this is a great project, hopefully they will be able to keep out the poachers. The less corrupt (yes, I’m optimistic) security guards and stricter rules on export will give them a chance at least.

It will be more difficult to export that stuff from Australia. Like you say better governance here, but also the illegal trade networks in Australia don’t exist yet. Also it would pretty damn obvious where you got it from if caught.

they might need security drones

Arts said:

party_pants said:

Arts said:

this is a great project, hopefully they will be able to keep out the poachers. The less corrupt (yes, I’m optimistic) security guards and stricter rules on export will give them a chance at least.

It will be more difficult to export that stuff from Australia. Like you say better governance here, but also the illegal trade networks in Australia don’t exist yet. Also it would pretty damn obvious where you got it from if caught.

sir, is that a rhino horn in your pocket…?

I was holding it for a friend..

Arts said:

party_pants said:

Arts said:

this is a great project, hopefully they will be able to keep out the poachers. The less corrupt (yes, I’m optimistic) security guards and stricter rules on export will give them a chance at least.

It will be more difficult to export that stuff from Australia. Like you say better governance here, but also the illegal trade networks in Australia don’t exist yet. Also it would pretty damn obvious where you got it from if caught.

I don’t know officer, it might need a closer examination.

sir, is that a rhino horn in your pocket…?

Arts said:

party_pants said:

Arts said:

this is a great project, hopefully they will be able to keep out the poachers. The less corrupt (yes, I’m optimistic) security guards and stricter rules on export will give them a chance at least.

It will be more difficult to export that stuff from Australia. Like you say better governance here, but also the illegal trade networks in Australia don’t exist yet. Also it would pretty damn obvious where you got it from if caught.

sir, is that a rhino horn in your pocket…?

I don’t know officer, it might need a closer examination.

(let me get that quote thing working properly, I can do this)

I hope these rhinos will include transgender/ confused groups as well

these rhinos will need to be put through an intensive gender equality syllabus/ diversity and sexual identity training

Arts said:

party_pants said:

Arts said:

this is a great project, hopefully they will be able to keep out the poachers. The less corrupt (yes, I’m optimistic) security guards and stricter rules on export will give them a chance at least.

It will be more difficult to export that stuff from Australia. Like you say better governance here, but also the illegal trade networks in Australia don’t exist yet. Also it would pretty damn obvious where you got it from if caught.

sir, is that a rhino horn in your pocket…?