SA youth wins international conservation award

On 20 August 2018, a 10-year-old Capetonian boy named Hunter Mitchell took second place at the International Eco-Hero Youth Awards held by Action for Nature.

Action For Nature (AFN) is a U.S.-based non-profit that has been rewarding youth across the globe (between the age of 8 and 16) who are tackling environmental problems, with cash prizes, in recognition of their efforts since 2003.

Hunter first got involved in raising money for the rescue and rehabilitation of rhino after hearing about a baby that had been abandoned by its mother in Aquila Game Reserve, near Worester in the Western Cape. Fortunatley that little rhino, named Osita, was rescued (to Hunter’s great relief) but he knew that there were more rhinos that needed help.

With the help of his mom, Hunter set up a Facebook page from which he continues to campaign to raise funds. According to a video (below), where Hunter explains his efforts, he has managed to raise over R200,000 in the last two-and-a-half years. It all began with the donation of his own pocket money and imploring friends and family members to chip in.

Besides campaigning online, Hunter also visits schools and speaks to children to help educate them in this area of conservation.

According to Cape Town Etc, Hunter is currently working on a storybook to help spread his message of conservation even further. He hopes to get the book published and get it distributed in Asia.

“I am just finishing a storybook for children and it is my goal to get this book into schools throughout Asia, where I can’t get to right now. I want children growing up in Vietnam and China to know that rhino horn does nothing special for humans – it doesn’t save them from cancer or other sicknesses,” he said.