Going to the petting zoo and meeting a one-ton rhino is certainly an incredible experience. But imagine keeping one at home as a pet.
Colin Wenham, a park manager in South Africa, adopted a baby black rhinoceros after the rhino’s mother was killed by poachers. Wenham and his family have been taking care of the rhino, whom they named Chizi, for almost two years and are planning to let him back out into Zimbabwe wildlife once he is fully matured. This story inspired Jack Jones, who wrote Chizi’s Tale, a children’s book about the rhino that was published earlier this month.
Jones, an 18-year-old from Connecticut, has been taking trips to Africa almost every summer since he was a young child. On one of those trips, he befriended Wenham and was moved once he learned what had happened to Chizi and his mother. By interacting with the rhino, Jones realized that the animals are much more than a sheer commodity; they’re living, breathing, and gentle creatures that deserve respect. He made it his mission to spread awareness about poaching and to put an end to killing wildlife animals.
Chizi’s Tale follows Chizi’s life as an orphan and the adventures he has in the Wenham household, such as Chizi going into the shower or eating from the dog bowl. Every detail is based solely on true accounts.
The last page of the story is filled with facts about black rhinos and how one can help the endangered species survive. Jones points out that 40 years ago, 65,000 rhinos roamed Africa and Asia. In 2015, there are fewer than 5,000 of the creatures left.
In order to help make a difference, Jones is donating all proceeds of his book to Tusk, a leading foundation in funding conservation efforts, community development, and educational programs throughout Africa. Tusk supports numerous projects that alleviate poverty but also work to conserve wildlife. The organization has been at the forefront of sustainable development programs, and Jones wants to aid in their funding as much as he can in order to help save black rhinos like Chizi.
To learn more about the story behind Chizi’s Tale, click here!
