Q: What is "Bowling For Rhinos"?
A: Each year the American Association of Zoo keepers (AAZK) sponsors a fund raising bowl-a-thon called "Bowling For Rhinos" (BFR). This is similar to the March Of Dimes Walk-a-thon only we bowl and collect donations rather than walk. Over 60 AAZK chapters participate throughout the US and Canada raising over $300,000 annually. BFR funds support LWC- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (formerly called Ngare Sergoi rhino sanctuary) in Kenya, Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP)and Way Kambas in Sumatra. These sanctuaries not only save rhinos but also these entire ecosystems!

Q: Why save Rhinos?
A: Rhinos have lived on earth for over 50 million years but whether they survive even 50 more years is open to speculation. Only 5 species of rhino exist today when once there were over 100 species. All 5 species- The White, Black, Indian, Sumatran and Javan are endangered. Only the white rhino with a population of 4,600 seems to be somewhat safe from extinction. In 1960, 60,000 black rhinos roamed Africa. Today only 2,500 remain in isolated populations. On the Asian continent, the Indian population remains at 2,000. The Sumatran numbers 200 and the Javan has only 47 animals.

The Black rhino is a symbol of conservation in Africa as our Bald eagle is to those of us in the United States. If the black rhino were to go extinct what message would we give our children? The rhino is a large, key species. By striving to save the rhino, we save large expanses of habitat. By saving these habitats, we are saving many endangered species, not just the rhino.

The rhino is our link to the dinosaurs as it has lived on earth over 50 million years but it can not survive machine guns and man. The rhino is killed for its horn to be used in oriental medicines and symbolic dagger handles. So valuable is the horn to poachers that the rhino can not survive unless it is on protected sanctuaries such as LWC. "BFR" money is used to fence in these areas, purchase planes and land rover vehicles to curtail poaching, translocate rhino into the sanctuary, and salaries for anti-poaching security guards.

The black rhino is AAZK's National symbol and we believe we have an obligation to save it from extinction. Through our efforts, we feel we can save these valuable habitats and the animals living in their safe havens for future generations to enjoy.

Q: Where do Bowling For Rhinos Funds go?
A: 100% of all funds raised goes directly to in situ conservation projects, conserving four species of Rhino, their habitats, and hundreds of other endangered plants and animals. BFR helps preserve the Black and White Rhino in Africa and the Javan and Sumatran Rhino in Indonesia. The first $160,000 raised each year goes to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy with the remainder split between Ujung Kulon National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.

In 1994, "BFR" expanded their funding efforts to include Ujung Kulon. This is a 300 square mile National Park on the island of Java (Indonesia) which is home to some of the rarest animals on earth! Ujung Kulon supports the last 47 Javan rhinos in the world (with a few discovered in Viet Nam), 40 species of mammals, 250 species of birds, many rare amphibians and reptiles including the green sea turtle. In fact, Java is home to one eighth of the world's mammals, birds, reptile, amphibian and plant species although it only occupies one percent of the globes land surface!

In 1997, "BFR" again expanded their funding efforts to include Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP). This is a 3,568 square km protected area on the southwest side of the island of Sumatra. Asian elephant, tiger, clouded leopard, Malayan sun bear, Indian wild dog and a substantial number of the estimated 200 Sumatran rhinos live within this park. $25,000 / year is needed at BBSNP to provide additional patrol stations, patrol equipment and training of park guards in anti- poaching skills.

There is now an Indonesian Rhino Conservation program (IRCP) that includes all parks with rhino populations. This program will allow funding to be used on top priority needs in top priority locations to conserve wildlife. BFR is part of this program. This allows unused funding in any given year to go through IRCP to be reallocated to these top priority locations. This allows BFR to expand funding to include such places as Way Kambas (Eastern Sumatra) that has a large population of Sumatran rhinos. Way Kambas has the 3rd or 4th largest population of Sumatran rhinos in the world and is a crucial nucleus for the survival and recovery of this species. Currently, the best use of and greatest need for the BFR funds is to be used to establish more anti-poaching teams in Way Kambas.

Our first $160,000 raised each year goes to LWC. The remainder of funds are sent via the International Rhino Fund to support Ujung Kulon, Way Kambas and BBSNP. With this support, we are now helping to conserve rhinos and their ecosystems worldwide!

See Bowling For Rhinos Funds Raised Distribution for more details.

Q: Are donations to Bowling For Rhinos tax deductible?
A: Yes, BFR is covered under AAZK's tax # 23-7274856 as a 501 (c)(3) organization. Also, remember to check with your employer to see if they have a matching gift program as an easy way to double your donation.

Q: How can I help?
A: You can help by participating in your local AAZK Chapter's Bowling For Rhinos fundraiser. Click here to locate the chapter nearest you.

Q: Do you need to be an AAZK member to bowl?
A: No. Anyone can join the Bowl-A-Thon and have fun. However, to win the safari trip, one must be an AAZK member in good standing. If you think you might win, you can join AAZK.

Q: How many chapters participate?
A: Approximately 60 chapters participate each year with about 55 events (some Bowl together) in U.S. and Canada. See our list of sites to find an event close to you.

Q: When can I find out who won the safari trips?
A: All money must be sent to me by September 1st to be eligible for the trip. I will notify winners by September 15th.

Q: Is BFR Patty Pearthree's job now?
A: No. Patty is a volunteer just like everyone else involved in BFR. This enables us to send 100% of all donations to the 3 areas of conservation. Administrative costs (for such things as postage, wire transfer fees overseas, etc.) are paid by the $25 fee for each participating chapter .

Q: Why not bowl for a different animal each year?
A: It takes about 5 years for a fund raiser to take hold where the public looks forward to it so it is important to keep the name the same. BFR saves rhino habitat so it saves everything from orchids to sea turtles to elephants. In fact, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya has more elephants (300) than rhino (80). BFR also saves cheetah, Grevy's zebra, sumatran tigers, malayan sun bears and tapirs, Javan gibbon and the coral reefs, just to name a few.

Q: We noticed the name of the event was changed, why is that?
A: Yes, the official name is now "American Association of Zoo Keepers Bowling For Rhinos, sponsored by Blue Rhino". We now have an official corporate sponsor, the good people at Blue Rhino. Blue Rhino had been looking for a way to support conservation of their namesake, the Rhino, and chose to contribute to our fundraising efforts. Part of our agreement was to add their name as our sponsor, update our fundraising documentation to include their name and logo, and in turn they'll donate significant funds to the program.

Q: Where can I get more information?
A: Hopefully, you can find most of what you're looking for on our website. If there are things we can add that are useful, please let us know. Additionally, you can find out more through some of the programs that we participate in, www.rhinos-irf.org and www.5tigers.org.