BAIXINHIA ANIMAL EMERGENCY RESCUE FUND

A animal emergency rescue fund has been launched by the SanWild Wildlife Trust in conjunction with the Wildlife Action Group in remembrance of the tame black rhino female Baixinhia who died at the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary in Limpopo Province on Wednesday 13 November 2003.

Baixinhia made international headline news on the 4th June 2001 when an article in the Mail & Guardian by Fiona MacLeod reported that she was to be hunted in a canned hunt organised by John Brooker of Glen Afric just outside Broederstroom. An international outcry prevented the hunt taking place and Baixinhia's owner agreed to let the rhino live out the rest of her life in the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary.

The canned hunting and illegal trapping and trading of especially lions, cheetah, leopard and other large predators are continuing in South Africa unchallenged despite the fact that information about such practises have been given to the authorities for investigation and prosecution. Especially cheetah and wild dog are captured from the wild and exported as “captive bred” animals. Many wild leopards are trapped illegally and as problem animals to be traded and hunted in “canned” hunts where the leopard is chased up into a tree with dogs or simply placed in a tree to wake up when it is then shot as a hunter’s trophy.

Many surplus zoo animals like Baixinhia is traded every year and a great number of large cats are imported into South Africa to be hunted in “canned” hunts. A single consignment can range from 2 male lions and 2 leopards from Brussels zoo to almost 65 lions from Brazil to a single importer in South Africa. Surplus animals on offer from local zoos include exotic cats such as Bengal tigers and Jaguars along with many exotic herbivores such as Barbary sheep, Scimitar horned Oryx and Sitatunga. All animals are sold to the highest bidder with little or no consideration to their long-term welfare. The list is endless and unfortunately it seems that the Cites permits for these unethical practises is always forthcoming.

It is essential that the trading and canned hunting of surplus zoo animals in South Africa is not allowed to continue unchallenged. It has to be stopped on moral and ethical grounds. In remembrance of Baixinhia a special trust fund has been launched to raise funds to expose the illegal trade and canned hunting of wild and surplus zoo animals. The rescue fund will also be used to rescue wild animals in need of help and will pay for all veterinary expenses for rescued animals.

If you would like to donate towards the Baixinhia Animal Emergency Rescue Fund please transfer your donation directly into the SanWild Wildlife Trust account at 

ABSA - Danie Joubert Street, Tzaneen, 0850
Branch code:334349
Account number 9111221180.
Kindly please mark you donations – Baixinhia Rescue Fund.

A beautiful memorial page created for Baixinhia by Mary Alice Pollard,  Cornwall's Voice for Animals