F5.5G Leap-forward Development of Broadband in Africa The Africa Broadband Forum 2024 (BBAF 2024) was successfully held in Cape Town, South Africa recently, under…
Tech start-up leads bid to save endangered rhinos
In a bid to safeguard rhinos from extinction, Platinum Rhino, the custodian of the world’s largest private rhino population, has partnered with South African technology start-up swiftVEE.
This move comes at a critical time when climate change and rampant poaching threaten the survival of the species. The Platinum Rhino, which has been self-funded for almost 30 years and is home to nearly 2000 Southern White Rhinos, will be auctioned online from Wednesday, 26 April to Monday, 1 May 2023.
The auction date coincides with International Save The Rhino Day of 1 May.
Platinum Rhino’s ability to actively prevent poaching with the use of sophisticated technology is a critical differentiator that accounts for its success. The sanctuary has not had an incident of poaching in over six years, an outstanding achievement considering the challenge of protecting the rhino’s habitats.
“Rhinos are facing extinction due to rampant poaching and the challenges of protecting large tracts of natural landscape where rhinos naturally occur. What makes Platinum Rhino unique is our ability to use technology to ensure the safety and security of our rhinos, and in so doing, continue to safely breed the species to prevent its extinction,” says Tammy Hume, spokesperson for Platinum Rhino.
Platinum Rhino has partnered with swiftVEE, an award-winning agritech company that has become the largest online wildlife and livestock trading platform in Africa. swiftVEE aims to cast its net towards international and local buyers that will continue the work of Platinum Rhino by offering real-time digital bidding from anywhere in the world.
By utilising algorithms to match buyers and sellers at optimal times, swiftVEE believes this will be a critical component in the successful sale of Platinum Rhino on international Save The Rhino Day.
“We’re proud to provide Platinum Rhino with an online platform in collaboration with Brandon Leer Auctioneers to empower buyers from anywhere in the world to participate in the auction. By making the sale of Platinum Rhino open to a global audience, we believe the right custodian to safeguard rhinos for future generations will emerge,” said Russel Luck, chief executive of swiftVEE.
swiftVEE has also called on everyone across the world to share the awareness videos available on their platform and help save the rhino on international Save The Rhino Day.
“Regardless of one’s political, theological, or cultural beliefs, taking care of the planet is our collective responsibility. We call on anyone and everyone to share the awareness videos available on our platform and help to save the rhino on international Save The Rhino Day.
“If 100 000 people with 1 000 followers each share our content to support this initiative, we would reach over 100 million people globally. Everyone’s voice makes a difference and contributes towards global impact,” said Luck.
The Platinum Rhino and swiftVEE partnership is a unique story where new digital technology is being used to safeguard a species for the future. To register for the auction, visit www.swiftvee.com or share the awareness videos available on the URL or via swiftVEE’s social media handles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.
