“We’ve always believed that to be a great enduring company, you need to give back,” says Jaco Boonzaaier, director of Cape Town Gin & Spirits Company. This is because the rhino is a keystone species - they are the glue that holds a habitat together – if they should disappear, it would set off a chain of events that could drastically change that habitat or even eradicate it completely. And, with restrictions being lifted and international travel seemingly back on the cards, these numbers will surely increase.Īlthough the extinction of these great beasts would be a tragedy, few realise the ramifications for us should this actually happen. Every day that passes is another day we lose a rhino. In part due to lockdown, 2020 saw the lowest number of rhinos poached yearly since 2011 with 394 rhinos lost, but the fight is far from over. If rhinos are lucky, poachers will tranquilise them first before their horns are hacked off, leaving the creature behind to bleed to death (and maybe rescued) or they’re simply shot dead to be dehorned. Their methods are cruel, with speed prioritised over the animals’ lives. Even though there is no truth in the myth that rhino horn holds medicinal properties, this hasn’t stopped the demand for illegal rhino horns and poachers are happy to meet that demand. South Africa is home to most of the world’s rhino population, making us a target for poachers.
The NPO has set out to protect not only the endangered rhino but also the pangolin and other dwindling species from extinction, with the hope of ending poaching for good across the country. Made in the classic style and infused with rhino bush and buchu, Cape Town Black Rhino Gin supports the ongoing fight to save the rhino by donating a portion of proceeds for every bottle sold to the Boucher Legacy. Cape Town Gin, has added a new varietal which will allow gin enthusiasts a chance to give back to rhino conservation this summer.