Bats Boldly Protect Rhinos at Ashton International College
Old Time favorites on the South African entertainment circuit, Eddie Ecksteen and The Bats performed at Ashton Internatonal College in a fundraising event for the World Youth Rhino Summit.

Grant Fowlds of Rhino Art receives the surfboard donated to the cause by Ballito local Geoff Southwood with comedy musician Eddie Ecksteen.
In an HILARIOUS musical showcase, South Africa’s ‘oldest’ musical group The Bats, performed for the audience at Ashton International College. The fundraising event was to raise money for Rhino Art, an initiative of Project Rhino KZN and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation. Ballito resident Geoff Southwood donated a Natural Curve surfboard, signed by ASP Pro Surfers at the recent Mr Price Pro in Ballito, to the cause. South African surfer Travis Logi will add his weight to the initiative when the collector’s board is auctioned at a future event.
The Rhino Poaching crisis in Southern Africa and Asian countries is now recognized as a worldwide wildlife emergency. In an industry estimated to generate more than $19 Billion in illegal profits, the latest initiative is to engage the help of future leaders in this war to protect our animals.
The recently held World Youth Rhino Summit at iMfolozi Game Reserve gathered over 100 young conservation leaders (aged 15-17 years) from South Africa and other African countries affected by rhino poaching and representatives from the ‘consumer’ countries in Asia in an initiative to develop solutions to the crisis. It has been concluded a critical mass of awareness is needed curb the demand for rhino horn thereby stopping the criminal syndicates trading in the product.
In Vietnam,China and other Asian countries the growing middle classes see rhino horn as a much desired status symbol as well as a powerful ‘muti’ ingredient. This has pushed the demand for rhino horn over the past four years to make it more valuable than gold, platinum and even cocaine in value.
Grant Fowlds of Rhino Art leads an educational awareness campaign and has recently returned from Vietnam where their work showcased the brutal realities of the rhino horn trade. Statistics now show a 38% decline in demand for Rhino Horn from that country.
The demand for Rhino horn in Vietnam has shown a 38% decline in the past year.”
See More about the Rhino Art Project with Project Rhino…