Rhino Rescue Botswana - With the Tlhokomela Trust

The USA launch of Rhino Conservation Botswana with the Tlhokmela Trust was held at the 3 Michelean star Le Bernardin Restaurant in New York. Attendees were truly a “Who’s Who” of the Southern African travel industry, along with key members of the press.

The purpose of the trust is to perpetuate and expand Botswana’s vast and pristine wilderness areas and protect critically endangered rhino and other species.

Map Ives, Director of Rhino Conservation, Botswana, covered the history of rhino poaching in Africa and the successful translocation of over 100 rhino to Botswana – due to funding from the safari industry and the assistance of the government of Botswana. Keith Vincent of Wilderness Safaris and Joss Kent of &Beyond are key supporters of the rhino relocations and were in attendance; as was the Botswana Ambassador to the United States, Mr. David John Newman.

Stephen Lussier, Paul Rowley and Pat Dambe of De Beers (diamond mines )discussed how they are joining forces with the Botswana government to help fund the anti-poaching effort.

Actress Uma Thurman spoke of how she fell in love with Africa and her experience translocating rhino to Botswana.

The Honorable Minister of the Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Botswana, Mr. Tshekedi Khama, gave a compelling speech on Botswana’s commitment to conservation. Botswana is the only government in Africa that uses its military to protect its wildlife, and it is very effective!