We’ve quite a few friends in Africa, many of whom are doing remarkable things. One woman in particular continues to impress us in many ways: Louise Leakey.
You may recognize the name, and for good reason. Louise is one of the most famous paleoanthropologists in the world. The current standard bearer for the Leakey family—true royalty in the paleontology field— Louise made headlines when she co-led an expedition with her mother to Kenya’s Turkana Basin, discovering a 3.5-million-year-old skull belonging to a new genus of hominid or early human.
Sure, Louise is a scientist. She’s also a pilot. A professor. Even a winemaker. In essence, Louise is an adventurer at heart… and she’s also an avid supporter of conservation in her beloved Kenyan homeland.
As an adventure-loving conservationist, Louise is a natural to participate in the annual Rhino Charge. It may sound foreboding, but the Charge is actually an exciting off-road motorsport competition that is held to raise funds for Kenya’s Aberdare Conservation Area. Louise is participating as part of Rhino Rouge, an all-woman team that has competed in the Charge for the past six years (and won the Ladies event four times!). More importantly, the team has raised more than $175,000 to date for the Aberdares, a forest ecosystem of critical importance to a wide variety of species including the endangered black rhino and the mountain bongo. In addition, the waters that flow from these forests are vital to the survival of several million people in the region.
We’re proud to have been associated with Louise, her family and their Turkana Basin Institute for years, and we continue to cheer them on in all their endeavours.
So, when the engines start at the Rhino Charge, we know who we’ll be rooting for: Louise and Rhino Rouge (car #17)! And we’re happy that no matter who crosses the finish line first, the Rhino Charge is a winning proposition for conservation in Kenya.
Want to learn more about Team Rhino Rouge? Click here to learn all about the team and their cause.
