Thandi, Themba and Bull # 84 are three rhinoceros who were poached on the 2nd of March 2012 at Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa. Bull # 84 died immediately. 
Thandi and Themba survived the initial attack and were left fighting for their lives.

“On that day I received a telephone call from my sister who had been following the rhino crisis in South Africa very closely. She was devastated by the gruesome attack on these three rhinos.  
Her despair, her sadness and her words became etched in my mind and I embarked on a journey that would change my life forever.

From that day on I began to read anything and everything I could find about the progress of these two rhinos, Thandi and Themba. 

With tears in my eyes I followed the social media posts of Dr William Fowlds as he slowly and carefully fought to save Thandi and Themba's lives.  I was so grateful to him for his dedication to the survival of these two rhinos. Themba sadly passed away as well and Thandi was the sole survivor of this poaching attack.

I reviewed the rising statistics of rhinos killed by poaching and I knew, deep in my heart, that I could not sit back and watch in silence.  I had to do something.

I wrote to Dr Fowlds, asking him how people like me could help and I will forever remember the words he wrote back:

“It is good to have a soft heart but better to have strong hands.” 

That was it! I knew that I had to contribute somehow. 

And so our journey began… 

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Tanja West