The two young save-the-rhino activists from Makhado (Louis Trichardt), Marco Marcos and Casper-John Venter, will later this month feature in the popular conservation programme 50/50 on SABC 2.

“We did our 50/50 interview!” said the two, both students of the Ridgeway Independent School. The broadcast will be on 18 February at 19:30.

“It was nice but kind of scary with the gigantic cameras. We were interviewed by Maurice Carpede,” said Marco (11). The interview took place on 28 January.

Casper-John (also 11-years-old) said that having entered the studio, they first did a warm up. One of the questions was how much money they had raised.

“I answered that we had raised between R7 000 and R8 000 so far. Then they said they had a surprise for us. I thought they would donate something to us, but it was really a big surprise...” Casper-John said. Into the studio came Rico, the rhino-horn sniffer dog that they support and their school’s mascot. They were overjoyed.

“Rico has sniffed R33 million worth of rhino horn, elephant tusks and skin. He is going to live in with the owner of the company and will not be staying with the other sniffer dogs in the kennels,” said Marco, very proud of their champion dog.

“We also have a Facebook page Rhino Peace SA. Our interview is probably the best thing that has happened to our project so far,” said Casper-John.

The footage for the insert of the 50/50 interview that will be aired, had already been shot in December last year when 50/50 presenter Faye Peters, producer Susan Puren and their photographer travelled to Makhado (Louis Trichardt).

Casper-John and Marco envisaged a couple of possible projects for this year. There may be a Rock for Rhino event with a superstar invited and they may have a stall at the CANSA Relay for Life. Ridgeway’s Cycle Race will donate some of the proceeds to their save-the-rhino project.

“We will have the annual Run for Rhino event and then Rico will probably come to visit,” said the boys.