[ad_1]
Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen responded to criticism around a viral photograph of India cricketer Shubman Gill, and head coach Rahul Dravid with a rhino during their visit to a wildlife zone in South Africa. The photo divided opinions on social media as the star Indian cricketer and the members of the support staff posed with the rhino, which was immobile.
Shubman Gill and Rahul Dravid along with India’s fielding coach T Dilip, batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey were in the photograph with the rhino that is being widely shared online. The photo went viral days after India cricketers went on African Safari during their ongoing tour of South Africa. Gill had shared photos of his experience and even shared a selfie with a Lion that he spotted from afar.
South Africa vs India, 1st Test Day 1 Updates
Several social media users questioned if the Rhino was tranquilised just to enable the Indian cricketers to pose with the endangered animal during their trip. Quite a few expressed shock that someone of Rahul Dravid’s stature went out and posed with an endangered species.
However, Kevin Pietersen, who has his own charity, SORAI (Save our Rhino’s in Africa and India) to rescue and rehabilitate abandoned or injured rhinos and spread awareness about the conversation of the animals, took to social media to give his take on the viral photo.
“This would be a part of a program that’s being ethically run through a trusted conservation org. This animal wouldn’t be darted for photos with people. To say or imply this is truly misleading and discredits the wonderful conservation orgs in SA that are trying to save this iconic species,” Pietersen said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Pietersen has been vocal about the urgent need for conservation action. He has used his high-profile status to educate the public and rally support, leveraging his social media presence and participating in documentaries like National Geographic’s ‘Save This Rhino – India’ to shine a light on the plight of rhinos.
India captain Rohit Sharma also has been part of campaigns to spread awareness about conserving Rhinos.
At the beginning of the 20th century, 500,000 rhinos roamed Africa and Asia. By 1970, rhino numbers dropped to 70,000, and today, around 27,000 rhinos remain in the wild. Very few rhinos survive outside national parks and reserves due to persistent poaching and habitat loss over many decades. Three species of rhino—black, Javan, and Sumatran—are critically endangered, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
[ad_2]
Source link