Kelly-Jane Peo, student intern at the Oyster Bay Reserve, implemented the 'Paint a Pinky' project on 21 September, as part of a local celebration of World Rino Day.
This awareness campaign involved the entire internship team at Oyster Bay Reserve (OBR), assisted by Mossel Bay Environmental Partnerships (MEP). The campaign was deployed at Langeberg Mall, KwaNonqaba Mall, in the Mossel Bay CBD, Voorbaai and at the OBR offices.
The OBR office interns and management, wearing anti-rhino poaching T-shirts and carrying anti-rhino poaching posters, presented a petition form in order to get as many signatures possible in support of banning rhino poaching. Anti-rhino poaching rubber bands were also made available.
The OBR team had great fun in painting pinkies, accentuating the link between human finger nails and rhino horn, both made of the protein keratin, indicating the senselessness of seeing rhino horn as a cure for cancer.
"There is absolute no medicinal value in the horns, so they might as well bite their own finger nails to get the same medicinal value they believe it has. It's made out of the same thing as your nail - protein keratin," Peo said.
Even the male OBR students and staff showed off their pinkies while they walked around town, collecting signatures for the petition.
"My dream is that South Africa will become the leaders in fighting rhino poaching and people will continue walking about with their red pinky nails, in support of anti-rhino poaching," said Kelly Peo. "The more people know about the project, the more awareness can be created."
Oyster Bay Reserve would like to thank everybody for taking their time in opening their hearts to support this project, especially the OBR team who assisted in gathering signatures and believing in this initiative. Over 1 000 signatures were petitioned, which will be sent Stop Rhino Poaching.com to show the local support for their campaign.
Peo expressed the hope that more small businesses and organisations will in future buy into similar MEP initiatives like this, in order for local environmental awareness campaigns to be expanded to the other provinces in South Africa.
"Collectively, we can stand and make a difference and that is what we are calling upon everyone to do.
For more information, call the OBR office at 044 693 3164 or visit their website at www.oysterbayreserve.co.za or visit the Paint a Pinky against Rhino Poaching Facebook page.
Never too young to start being a conservationist. A young supporter of anti-rhino poaching sports a red pinky nail, during the Paint a Pinky project.
ARTICLE: KELLY-JANE PEO
