Surfer Gives It Horns

A SURFER muscled in, literally, to raise funds for rhino conservation.

Dene Botha, a surfer, actor and entrepreneur, helped raise R 1 1337.00 for RhinoProtect. RhinoProtect is an organisation dedicated to the protection and preservation of rhinos in this country. Botha raised the money through the Operation Man Cave promotion at the Decorex exhibition where he, sports' celebrities Bob and Dan Skinstad, talkshow host David Donde and soccer star Ryan Botha teamed up with top designers to create the ultimate male environment.

Botha was born and raised in the Fish Hoek valley Fish Hoek, Noordhoek and Kommetjie. He and designer Dani Erhlich came in second behind the Skinstad brothers in the challenge to raise the most money for their favourite charity over the four days of the exhibition, held in Cape Town.

Founded by Damian Vergnaud, RhinoProtect.org has developed a barium-dye which is injected into the horn of the rhino so the horn is more easily detected at airports and customs. This makes the rhino horn unfit for human consumption, as it results in diarrhoea and vomiting. It also becomes useless for ornamental purposes such as dagger handles or jewellery. The horn treatment is not harmful to the animal.

Elated at being able to contribute to the project, Botha says: “It was great to see all the people coming together to do something so unselfish and give something back to the community, children and animals." Botha was instrumental in helping set the Guinness World Record for the most surfers riding the same wave. He is also one of SA’s highest qualified surf coaches and can be seen in the new season of the Bar One Manhunt on SABC3.