Save the Rhino International (SRI) is a UK-based conservation charity. It is Europe's largest single-species rhino charity, in terms of funds raised, grants made, and profile and positioning. SRI began fundraising for in situ rhino conservation projects in 1992 and was formally registered as a charity in 1994. One of SRI's founder patrons was the British writer and humorist Douglas Adams,[1] who was also known to be a conservation movement enthusiast.
Save the Rhino International works to conserve viable populations of Critically Endangered rhinos in Africa and Asia. By funding field projects and through education, the goal of Save the Rhino is to deliver material, long-lasting and widespread benefits to rhinos and other endangered species, ecosystems, and the people living in these areas.[2]
SRI raises funds to support projects for rhino conservation. These programs are used to develop sustainable methods by which local communities can manage natural resources and teach the public about the importance of preserving natural resources and address human-wildlife conflict issues. The funding is also utilized for direct assistance as well, such as anti-poaching and monitoring patrols, species translocation, research into threats to rhinos and alternatives to the use of rhino horn, and veterinary work.
In 2005/6 the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) selected rhinoceros species as the subject of their annual fund-raising and awareness campaign, with direct input from SRI, raising a total of €660,000.[4] [5]
Extensive campaigns have also been run in Vietnam with the help of TV actor Paul Blackthorne and Arsenal F.C. footballer Aaron Ramsey.[6]