“It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.” This idea has been propagated widely but humans lack kindness or sense? Probably only a few can understand that the earth was not created only for them. At the beginning of the 20th century around 500,000 rhino roamed in Africa and Asia but now few rhinos survive outside national parks and reserves due to persistent poaching and habitat loss and mass mortality over many decades. Humans should understand that this world is not the world of "Rhinoceros" that Eugene Ionesco presented in front of mankind, where the extinction of Rhinoceros was simply impossible. In the real world, two species oh rhino in Asia- Javan, and Sumatran-are endangered and a subspecies of Javan rhino was already declared extinct in Vietnam in 2011, which is a big reason of concern. But probably due to the efforts of a few people, mankind will understand that there is the existence of other “kind” equally important for the existence of the world.
Rohit Sharma, India’s cricket team vice-captain is launching “Rohit4Rhinos” campaign in partnership with WWF India and Animal Planet in order to build awareness for the need to conserve the One-horned Rhinoceros or the Indian Rhino as earlier rhinos were found across the Indus, Ganges and the Brahmaputra river basins but now it is only found in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. The campaign will be launched on Animal Planet to commemorate World Rhino Day on 22nd September 2019. Being an animal lover he has always inspired his fans to show love and care for the animals, and probably due to his popularity the outcome can be amazing. He pledges to do his bit to save the “vulnerable” species from extinction. Rohit even tweeted, “There are approx. 3500 #Greateronehornedrhinos in the world today; 82% of them in India. Join me to #batforrhinos on #worldrhinoday and support measures to protect these animals in the wild.”
Rohit Sharma joined WWF India as its Brand Ambassador for Rhino Conservation in 2018 and now by leading wildlife channel Animal Planet, the team is ready to set out and create awareness in India regarding the need for conservation. Animal Planet will run a series of programmes during “Rhino Week”.
Even a page www.rohit4rhinos.org has been created to popularize the cause. Rohit also said, “It is our duty as co-inhabitants of this planet to try and protect other species that walk this planet, alongside us. The future is in our hands and we should do whatever we can to ensure that our children are able to enjoy the rich biodiversity this world has to offer. I hope that this campaign will inspire others to come forward and join Animal Planet, WWF India and I in this endeavor to save the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros.”
He has not only garnered praises due to his actions by fans but also by the director of WWF India, Dr. Dipankar Ghose, “WWF India would like to thank Rohit Sharma for being the voice of conservation and for his continuous support raising awareness about the greater one-horned rhinos.”
Indeed, Rohit Sharma not only bats on the field but off the field as well, now he will bat for the conservation of Rhinos and will surely achieve success in the same way.
