A Cardboard Life

As my own body still recovers from my own adventure a few weeks ago,it's my bros turn to be eaten by midgies while crawling up mountainsides. 3 of 'em to be precise. He's doing it for cancer, so good luck to him and his colleague. For more info and donations: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ricky-Rae #3peaks #bennevis #scaffelpike #mountsnowdon #mountains #outdoors #hiking #walking #adventure #fuckcancer #JustGiving #UK #Saturday #instapic #donate #TheMidgiesAreMonsterous

@weirdfishltd thanks for putting me into the semis - "The Redshank Redemption " 😂 (wait...am I the only one laughing here?!). Good luck t-shirt designers! #weirdfish #rspb #competition #Scotland #Glasgow #instapic #theshawshankredemption #tshirts #birds #conservation #monday #nightshift

Pink sun with dramatic glare!!! 3 weeks till the cycle adventure begins, including pictures, insta-vids (oh dear) and probably lots of swear words as I clamber, climb, fall, cycle and traverse over all sorts of terrain. Ought to be fun! Please keep donating- it's going straight to Save The Rhino. #rhino #sunset #drama #pink #donate #Sunday #nightshift #westhighlandway #3weeks #training #cycling #AlmostThere

About 10 hours until the start. Can't wait. My script muscles are woefully out of shape (saving Rhinos has taken my focus!) but it's all about multi-tasking. Good luck to my fellow writers! #nycscreenwritingchallenge #nycmidnight #writersofinstagram #stillsavingrhinos #scripts #writing #celtx #challenge #focus #positive #OnNights #ButWhoNeedsSleepWhenThereIsWorldsToCreate

It's the least we can do #savetherhinos #whales #Dolphins #gorillas #lions #tigers #polarbears #AndEveryOtherFuckingAnimalThatsBeingHunted #nightshift #Tuesday #conservation #savethemall

Just a final thanks to all the contributors - I appreciate all the effort. Thanks to those who liked/shared the posts. Please donate,even a £1 Text RINO66 £DONATION TO 70070 Or alternatively go to www.justgiving.com/SavingEachAnimalOneAtATime Thanks for taking the time to read in a time where people don't care and scroll passed uninterested unless it affects the tiny bubble they live in. This was for the Rhinos and savetherhino.org #savetherhino #Rhinos #Saturday #instapic #awareness #environment #cycling #bikes

12/12 THE INDIAN RHINO aka The Greater One-Horned Rhino, this big guy is scattered over India, but the majority of them - over 2000, are located primarily in Kazarangaga National Park. With a single protruding horn made of pure keratin, they are second in size in Asia, to only the Asian Elephant. Bucking the trend slightly, in 1900s there were less than 100 in the wild, but were brought back. A program has been established in partnership with the Government of Assam, Bodo Territorial Council, WWF -India, US Fish & Wildlife Service and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) called IRV (Indian Rhino Vision) 2020 which aims to increase Rhinos to 3000 by 2020. However with a Rhino killed just hours after the Royals visited the park, security is clearly still needed. Not only is poaching serious here, but live stock encroachment is reducing the space the Rhinos need. Plus, with most Rhinos in a single site, they are at risk if a disease was to find its way into the park, or if a natural disaster struck. Save The Rhino has sent £11,043 to IRV 2020 since October 2014. Artist: Chris (& Chloe) Next: CONCLUSION & THANKS #respectthehorn #rhinoday #Rhinos #Saturday #conservation #savetherhino #Assam #India #indianrhino #IRV2020 #wwfindia #kaziranganationalpark #cycle #PleaseDonate

11/12 RHINO STATUS Everyone is no doubt aware of the Red List that is produced each year that tells us an animals status. Here is the list : EXTINCT Ex - Extinct Ew - Extinct in the wild THREATENED Cr - Critically endangered En - Endangered Vu - Vulnerable LOWER RISK Nt - Near threatened Cd - Conservation dependent Lc - Least concern And here is where the 5 Rhinos stand: WHITE - NEAR THREATENED (likely to change in 2016) BLACK - CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SUMATRAN - CRITICALLY ENDANGERED INDIAN - VULNERABLE JAVAN - CRITICALLY ENDANGERED Cold hard data. And it's getting worse. Next up: THE INDIAN RHINO #savetherhino #rhinos #white #black #Sumatran #javan #Indian #iucnredlist #extinct #conservation #environmental #nature #endangered #Saturday #rhinoday #awareness #pleasedonate

10/12 THE WHITE RHINO The largest species of Rhino by far, this is also the world's largest land mammal, after 3 species of Elephant. Weighing more than a hippo, there are two subspecies: Southern White with 20,000 wild. And the Northern White with only 3 remaining, all in captivity. They were declared extinct in 2006, just 5 years before the Black Western was declared officially extinct. In view of the poaching crisis, the African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) asks that each country desist from publishing totals. Their science officer has calculated that 2015 will be the tipping point if poaching continues at the same rate. This is the point in which poaching and natural deaths overtake births ie Rhino numbers decline. South Africa, with the biggest Rhino population, is also the hardest hit region with 1215 slaughtered during 2014. Picture that in your head.1215 of the biggest land mammals,barring Elephants, dead. This is why it's important. Artist/Clay builder: Elyssa (Natalie) Next up: RHINO ENDANGERED CLASSIFICATIONS #rhinoday #rhinosaturday #savetherhino #respectthehorn #whiterhino #southernwhiterhino #northernwhiterhino #environment #conservation #animals #poaching #southafrica #instapics #pleasedonate

9/12 THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY FINAL DAY At a smooth 25 miles, the last day from Glencoe to Fort William via Kinlochleven should be straightforward enough. Though by then, bodies will be undoubtedly hurt. One obstacle lies in our path - The Devil's Staircase. Extraordinarily steep,this will eat up many hours and really burn those thighs. The final approach through Glen Nevis under the shadow of Ben Nevis, our finish is at the West Highland Way sculpture in Gordon St, Fort William. Another hostel that night, and something tells me we'll be sleeping well. More donations means the more determined not to fail. So please donate to my text number or the website: Text RINO66 £DONATION TO 70070 or www.justgiving.com/SavingEachAnimalOneAtATime Next up: THE WHITE RHINO #savetherhino #cycle #westhighlandway #rhinos #Saturday #environmental #conservation #awareness #Scotland #fitness #hostelling #Fortwilliam #devilsstaircase #StillPosting

8/12 THE DOG SQUAD! Sounds like a film, but in reality it's a group of dogs saving the lives of Rhinos. So maybe it could be a film if Disney got involved. Made up of ranger and dog teams, the Rhino Dog Squad plays a vital role in keeping Rhinos safe in Kenya. Specifically Ol Jogi, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Lewa Wildife Conservancy. These conservancies are key members of Kenya's Association of Private Land Rhino Sanctuaries, one of Save The Rhino's long term programme partners. The dogs are fantastic for track, scent and attack skills in combating poaching. The best ones are Bloodhounds and Belgian Malinois. Tracker dogs have great noses, and are trained to track smells over huge distances, for long periods. Scent dogs can detect the smallest illegal substance such as Rhino horn or ammunition. Attack dogs are trained to bite and hold poachers or potential poachers. They also protect the rangers. Save The Rhino have set up a wonderful appeal on their website. There is a series of youtube videos depicting the dogs in action www.youtube.com/savetherhinoofficial Donate to the Rhino Dog Squad at www.savetherhino.org/rhinodogsquad This appeal was started by none other than our very own Blair Drummond Safari Park who donated £2025 to the appeal. Sharing and liking is one thing. But it's donations that count. Next Up: West Highland Way - Final Day #savetherhino #dogsquad #kenya #conservation #oljogi #olpejetaconservancy #lewawildlifeconservancy #rhino #rhinosaturday #bloodhounds #belgianmalinois #donate #rangers #disney #trackers #fourleggedfriends #blairdrummondsafaripark (at Sir Charles Wilson Building)

7/12 THE JAVAN RHINO Probably Earths most threatened terrestrial mammal with only 58-61 in Ujung Kulon National Park, Java, Indonesia. Hunted off the face of the Earth for their horns and 'big-game hunting trophies'. The rarer these dudes became the higher the value. Like all Rhinos, their horn is made of nothing more than Keratin. A substance found in fingernails. It as absolutely no medicinal value whatsoever. However, when Mao wanted to go against the 'West' 50 years ago, he encouraged the people of China to use traditional medicines. Which sadly included Rhino horn. Like the Indian rhino, the Javan rhinoceros has a single horn. The Javan rhinoceros does not appear to often use its horn for fighting, but instead uses it to scrape mud away in wallows, to pull down plants for eating, and to open paths through thick vegetation. Similar to the other browsing species of rhino (the black, Sumatran, and Indian), the Javan rhino has long, pointed, upper lips which help in grabbing food. Four 4-man Rhino Protection Units (RPUs), funded by the IRF (International Rhino Foundation), including contributions from Save The Rhino, are the backbone of protection for this species - 3 locals rigorously selected and 1 park guard who can carry a weapon and make arrests. But quite frankly, they need more. More help, more rangers, more donations. Artist: Sam (Nicola) Next: RHINO DOG SQUAD! #javanrhino #savetherhino #indonesia #china #ujungkulonnationalpark #rhinos #rhinosaturday #pleasedonate #instapics #indianrhino #conservation #earth #green #share #retweet #repost #awareness

6/12 THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY - DAY 2 On this day we are intending to smash 38 miles, the longest day of the trip. Inversnaid to Crianlarich, on to Bridge of Orchy, before finally cimbing up (slowly no doubt), as the sun sets, into Glencoe Mountain Resort. Inversnaid to Inverarnan is one tough beast. Miles of bike carrying on our shoulders allowing us to scramble over rocks and climb where needed. If it rains in this section, the potential for boggy and marshy grounds increases. We take on Rannoch Moor and The Black Mountains well aware that for 10 miles we have zero cover over a harsh, bleak, yet no doubt poetic, landscape. Due to it being busy season we are staying wherever we could get in to - welcome to our Hobbit House (in the picture). We live as hobbits for a night before facing up to the task of completing our journey in the third and final leg the following day Up Next: THE JAVAN RHINO #crianlarich #savetherhino #glencoe #rugged #scotland #cycleforrhinos #inversnaid #westhighlandway #scotland #saturday #donate #instapic #instagram #HashtagsRaiseAwareness (at iCafe Sauchiehall Street)

5/12 THE BLACK RHINO Native to East and Southern Africa, the Black Rhino is distinctive for its square lips. Smaller skull and ears than its white counterpart, it's name is a touch ironic as its colour ranges from brown to grey. In 1970 there were 65,000. Now, less than 2500. As mentioned previously, in 2011 the Western Black Rhino, a sub species, was declared extinct. In Kenya in 1960 there used to be 20,000 of these awesome beasts. Now only 300. But it's not all doom and gloom. The LEWA Wildlife Conservancy has achieved great success in slowly rebuilding the population, including the rangers who work tirelessly for the cause. Thanks to the Anna Merz Rhino Trust £31,520 was sent from Save The Rhino to LEWA to pay for Two 3-man guard posts. Money donated is helping directly. Please donate! Artist: Katie (Gillian) Up next: WHW Day 2 #lewa #rhinos #savetherhino #blackrhino #extinct #conservation #westernblackrhino #kenya #Saturday #rhinoday (at Glasgow, United Kingdom)

4/12 SAVE THE RHINO My chosen charity work their backsides off to help conserve the future of the big veggies. Their website is www.savetherhino.org check them out on Facebook too, and twitter, where they are liking and retweeting my posts. Their vision is simple: "All Five Rhino Species Thriving In The Wild For Future Generations " Simple vision, so difficult to execute. They will achieve this through their mission statement: To collaborate with partners to support endangered Rhino in Africa and Asia. Strategies: -Raising funds to protect and and increase Rhino numbers -Facilitate the exchange of support and information between conservation stakeholders -Getting local communities involved. Benefitting from employment, education, sustainable use of natural resources etc -Being at the forefront to reduce the demand for Rhino horn in consumer countries (😠) and -Raising global awareness for urgent action on Rhino conservation. Which is exactly what I'm doing today to help them. #savetherhino #respectthehorn #cycling #preservation #protection #conservation #animals #environmental #awareness #rhinosaturday (at Springfield Quay Harvester)

3/12 THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY -DAY 1 Totalling 96 gruelling miles, day 1 sees Marc @mthomsn and I doing 33 miles from Milngavie to Inversnaid. This takes in Drymen and Rowardennan, with Drymen being the last decent sized town until Kinlochleven on the 80 mile mark. With Conic Hill - a 17 mile brutal steep climb,this is considered the toughest section (although, there are no easy sections here). Taking in the amazing length of Loch Lomond, we end the day at Inversnaid Bunkhouse (Marcs first taste of a hostel!) where we snooze and refuel before our eyes look towards Glencoe on our second day. #Westhighlandway #lochlomond #conichill #rhinos #Drymen #Rowardennan #cycleforrhinos #savetherhino #donate #Scotland #Saturday (at Springfield Quay Harvester)

1/12 THE SUMATRAN RHINO Now less than 100 of these guys in the wild, living mainly in 3 areas of Indonesia: Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Way Kambas National Park, Gunung Leuser National Park. Their plight is made harder due to being widely scattered over a vast area making it difficult to enforce conservation techniques. They have two horns much like African Rhino, and stand up to 5ft tall. With distinctive long hair around the ears and a thick clump of hair at the tail, they may be poor sighted, but are agile and fast, perfect for the terrain they live in. In 2010, numbers in Malaysia were estimated around 60-80. Now, there are zero. In ten years they were made extinct there. In ten years more, who knows how many will be left. Artist: Ritchie NEXT UP: THE WHW TRIP PT 1 #RhinoDay #rhinos #SumatranRhino #Indonesia #nationalpark #Saturday #conservation #donate #bukitbarisan #waykambas #gunungleuser #savetherhino (at The Gym Group Glasgow Quay)