In 2007, the last white rhino was killed by poachers in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Africa. Today, the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative (CRCI) is reintroducing rhinos to the country in a way that serves the local communities and promotes environmental sustainability.
Learn more when “Rhino Conservation for Community Empowerment in Zimbabwe” is presented from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures in Fort Collins. Mark Butcher, managing director and guide for Imvelo Safari Lodges in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, will outline how wildlife conservation and community-based tourism can be mutually beneficial.
The CRCI is a groundbreaking project. For the first time in history, white rhinos have been moved from private land to community-owned land where the local people are tasked with protecting them. The Hwange National Park is also one of the best places on earth to see elephants, lions, cheetahs and giraffes.
Butcher received his Bachelor of Science in zoology and botany from Rhodes University before working as a wildlife officer with Zimbabwe’s Forestry Commission. His lifelong passion for Zimbabwe’s wildlife and its local communities led to his development of programs that engage the people while advancing the natural ecosystems. Imvelo Safari Lodges offers active and experiential safaris by vehicle, by canoe, on foot, on a mountain bike and even by vintage rail car.
The presentation is hosted by the museum’s travel partner, Sari Gartner with Outdoor Travel Adventures, in coordination with the museum’s Global Adventures club. The Global Adventures club, with leaders Daniel and Alice Owen, is an interesting and interactive forum to learn and share information about the world and the many opportunities to discover, explore and protect it.
Tickets to the presentation are $15 per person, and reservations are requested at globalvillagemuseum.org. Beginning at 5 p.m., refreshments and wine will be served in the museum’s lobby, and Butcher will be greeting guests and answering their questions.
The Global Village Museum is located at 200 W. Mountain Ave., and museum hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information and closure dates during the change of exhibits, visit globalvillagemuseum.org or call 970.221.4600.