![\"ccs-62657-0-14721000-1469259925.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-14721000-1469259925.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Sponsors of the Eston MTB Challenge, Illovo Sugar and Tala Collection Private Game Reserve continue to combine in pursuit of safeguarding the reserve’s rhinos. Supplied\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\nWith the endangered species under constant threat, the sugar giant continues to the throw its weight behind the fight against the poaching of Eston\u2019s population of prehistoric creatures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe responsibility of protecting our endangered rhinos is everyone\u2019s and Illovo believes that all corporates need to assist in some way in the conservation of our environment and animals, especially those that are under threat,\u201d explains Illovo Sugar Marketing Manager, Darrell de Wet.<\/p>\n
\u201cTala is situated in the heart of the Eston community and this tourist attraction contributes to the overall well-being of this community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Eston Illovo Sugar mill is in close proximity to Tala and with Illovo being passionate about adding value to all the communities in which we operate, it made sense for us to partner with this reserve in an effort to not only support a worthy cause of protecting our rhino, but to assist the Eston community as a whole as well,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
Ahead of last year\u2019s Illovo Eston MTB Challenge, Illovo confirmed their provision of funds for the darting and tagging of Tala\u2019s rhinos with the tagging seeing each of the five rhino fitted with a hi-tech GPS system, allowing for their monitoring 24-hours a day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the rhino can be monitored at all times they can be better protected,\u201d says De Wet. \u201cIllovo also support Rave Rhino Protection, who provide the man power and equipment to safeguard these rhinos at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bracelets allow the rhinos to be tracked at any given time, thus enabling the RAVE caretakers to find them quickly and easily, even in the middle of night,\u201d explains Tala Collection Private Game Reserve General Manager, Mike Nunan. \u201cIt also allows us to track a history of their movements, so that we can check on grazing habits and group dynamics.\u201d<\/p>\n
More recently, Illovo has also been involved in a conservation project, assisting Tala to remove alien plant growth from their reserve and preserve their natural vegetation.<\/p>\n \u201cProtecting the rhino is not only about keeping them safe but also about preserving the land so that they have the necessary space and vegetation to flourish in their habitat.<\/p>\n \u201cIllovo funded a team of local community members who were employed to assist with this project, providing Tala with the labour they needed and in turn promoting skills development for their community members.<\/p>\n \u201cThe alien plant eradication programme is currently taking place and will continue for the next few months.\u201d<\/p>\n As their relationship continues to strengthen through their joint sponsorship of the Illovo Eston MTB Challenge, Illovo Eston mill and Tala continue to work closely together, particularly in the fight to protect the Tala\u2019s magnificent rhinos.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout the support of Illovo, who also support the RAVE security personnel, the safety of these beasts \u2013 a national asset \u2013 would be at far greater risk,\u201d describes Nunan. \u201cIllovo\u2019s support is invaluable and allows the Tala Collection to share these wonderful animals with the general public.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward to continuing working together with Tala and taking on new projects to assist the reserve as and when the need arises,\u201d confirms De Wet.<\/p>\n The 2016 Illovo Eston MTB Challenge takes place on Sunday, 7 August and plays host to the 60km Illovo Eston Marathon, 40km aQuell\u00e9 Half Marathon, 18km STIHL Tala Family Ride and 10km Omnia Kids Ride. Entries can be submitted via www.roag.co.za<\/a> and more information can be found at www.illovoestonmtb.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As the 2016 Illovo Eston MTB Challenge at the Eston Farmers\u2019 Club on Sunday 7 August draws nearer, event title sponsors, Illovo Sugar and 18km race route partners, Tala Collection Private Game Reserve have reaffirmed their commitment to the protection of the region\u2019s rhinos. The 3000 hectare, KZN Midlands based private reserve doesn\u2019t have any […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":41325,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[2394,2393],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-17855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-eston-mtb-challenge","tag-illovo-eston-mtb-challenge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17855"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=17855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a>Having come together through their support of the Illovo Eston MTB Challenge, of which the 2016 edition takes place on Sunday 7 August at the Eston Farmers’ Club, Illovo Sugar and Tala Collection Private Game Reserve will continue their partnership in an effort to protect the region’s rhinos. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n