Bowling for Rhinos 2008

On July 25th, 2008 Battle Creek AAZK hosted the first annual Bowling for Rhinos at Nottke’s Family Fun Center in Battle Creek. Bowling for Rhinos is one of the only nationwide fundraisers that gives 100% of all donations directly to animal conservation. Zookeepers from all over the country donated their time and skills to run this event so that every penny that was raised can go to help endangered rhinos, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, tigers, and hundreds of other animal species threatened with extinction. About 60 local AAZK chapters in the United States and Canada hosted an event in their city. Battle Creek AAZK raised a total of $4,067 from donations, a silent auction, and t-shirt sales.

The money we raised goes to two main areas in which rhinos live. The first is the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. This wildlife refuge is not only home to rhinos but elephants, lions, the endangered Grevy’s zebra, antelope, gazelle, and countless bird and reptile species. In addition, Lewa is a key player in cheetah conservation in Kenya. Binder Park Zoo has a long history of supporting cheetah conservation so this factor was especially important to our chapter.

The other area supported by Bowling for Rhinos is Indonesia. In Indonesia, Bowling for Rhinos supports the remaining Javan Rhinos at Ujung Kulon National Park and the Samatran Rhinos in Bukit Barisan Selatan and Way Kambas National Parks. The parks are home to thousands of other rain forest species including tigers, gibbons, tapirs, otters, and clouded leopards. So, although the rhino is the main focus of the event, conservation of all animals within these ecosystems is taking place.

In the future, we will continue to build the event and raise more money for this cause. We understand that although Binder Park Zoo does not exhibit rhinos that the areas that this event supports are saving an ecosystem and not just single species.

For more information on Bowling for Rhinos please go to: www.aazkbfr.org