The award will be sponsored jointly by Hasselblad Cameras and Xiaoyang Yu, founding partner of China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI), a China focused growth capital fund. They have come together to sponsor the Rhino Conservation Award with a desire to cut demand for rhino horn and to increase capture and prosecution of poachers. Dr. Hansen founded the Carl Zeiss Tiger Conservation Award in India 14 years ago - a project which is still running.
The Game Rangers Association of Africa is a NPO with a membership of over 1 500 mainly game rangers across Africa. The association commits itself to the protection, conservation and, where possible, restoration of Africa's biodiversity and the continued existence of its wilderness for the benefit of present and future generations.
The goal of the Rhino Conservation Award is to create awareness and recognise exceptional individuals and organisations for their efforts in preventing the poaching of rhinos and drive a reduction of demand in regions where poached rhino horn is destined. The award will be presented at a gala ceremony in Pretoria on 29 November.
Recipients of the Rhino Conservation Awards cover different categories with the aim of recognising the wide range of people who work against rhino poaching. These categories cover rangers in the field, the judiciary, media, NGOs and technology.
Nominations for the award have opened and can be sourced from az.oc.stnevetnirruc@ecynaJ or on the website www.gameranger.org.
