John,

Black rhinos are one of the most critically endangered species on the planet – a shocking 96% have already been wiped out, with fewer than 6,000 left. And now a new open-pit tin mine in Namibia threatens one of the safest remaining habitats for these unique, magnificent creatures.

To make way for the new mine, last year massive machines got to work hacking a road straight through the heart of an incredibly successful, community-led conservancy that’s famous for its work protecting the desert-adapted black rhino.

The community filed a lawsuit to block the development of the tin mine and protect nature, arguing it would devastate wildlife and the tourism efforts that protect it, not to mention decades of pioneering conservation work.

The court just granted their request to halt construction while the case works its way through the court, but that could take another 18 months and a win is far from guaranteed. The community has already incurred huge legal fees and is running out of funds – can you urgently chip in to help stop the tin mine and save these unique black rhinos?

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Black rhinos are known to be especially sensitive to noise and human disturbance. Heavy machinery and blasting from mining quickly force these endangered creatures to abandon their habitats — something neighbouring communities have already seen firsthand.

When massive machines rolled into a nearby conservancy four years ago and began blasting rock, the black rhinos quickly vanished — alongside the tourism that had kept the community afloat. This community has been left with nothing but mining

destruction. Now, in the neighbouring conservancies, we have a carbon copy of what

happened four years ago to their neighbors, and now all is at risk.

Already, increased human activity in the area to prep for the mine has resulted in black rhinos becoming stressed and starting to move away. The lawsuit is the community’s best chance to stop the mine, but it could take years – and meanwhile legal fees are growing by the day.

It’s a deliberate strategy by shady mining giants who will stop at nothing to push through their destructive project – even resorting to threats and bribes. They’ve even managed to buy off law enforcement and public officials to get them on board with the project.

It will not be easy for this community to raise the cash needed to continue standing up to these powerful interests and win. But we can change that right now if, together, we give them an influx of international support. Can you urgently rush a donation to help them stop the mine and save the rhinos – and keep up Ekō’s campaigns to stop corporate abuse like this? 

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Your donation will help power Ekō and our campaigns worldwide fighting for people and the planet.