West Midland Safari Park to highlight rhino conservation during May half-term

Rhino Week will be running at the Bewdley-based attraction between Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, June 6.

Young explorers can take part in an interactive scratchcard trail, where they must track down some of the park's resident rhinoceros, with the chance to discover interesting rhino facts along the way. The Covid-friendly activity will take them on an adventure around the park's Discovery Trail, theme park and animal exhibits.

In addition, the park is running a competition throughout the event where visitors have the chance to win a family annual pass. Participants need to take their picture next to the life size image of Indian rhino Seto and her calf Inesh – and upload the post to Instagram or the park's Facebook wall, tagging West Midland Safari Park.

Finally, there will be the chance to visit the Rhino Week ‘Conservation Station’, where guests can learn insights into the park’s rhinos, hear interesting facts about the various species of rhino and find out more about how to help save these creatures in the wild.

The event will also see the park bring attention to their charity partner for Rhino Week, Save the Rhino International (SRI).

Important

Research and conservation officer, Katie McDonald, said, “It’s wonderful to be celebrating Rhino Week here at the park this half-term and highlighting why it's so important that we protect these fantastic creatures.

"All five species of rhino are under threat at present, with more than 9,000 rhinos losing their lives in the past decade to illegal poaching. Rhino habitat is shrinking as human population grows which also has a devastating effect.

“Save the Rhino International is one of the organisations working hard to keep rhinos safe and is our conservation charity partner for Rhino Week. They help implement measures, including the creation of protected areas of habitat, captive breeding programmes and anti-poaching patrols. They also educate stopping consumers buying rhino horn which has had a proven positive change.

“We hope we can champion the work that they are doing throughout this event and encourage young explorers to discover more about rhinoceros, and how they can help. Any funds raised on site will be channelled directly to Save the Rhino’s Sumatran Breeding Sanctuary, which is a fantastic programme working to increase the wild population of rhino in their native countries globally.”

West Midland Safari Park is home to two species of rhino – the Indian rhino and the southern white rhino. The park is part of European breeding programmes for both of these species, and in 2020 announced the birth of their first ever Indian rhino calf.

Tickets to visit West Midland Safari Park must be booked in advance, by visiting wmsp.co.uk