Naked runner makes rhino case

2013-02-25 10:16

Rhino horn. (File: AFP)

Duncan Alfreds

Cape Town - Naked skydiver Steve Newman has come down to Earth with a new stunt to raise awareness of rhino poaching in SA.

Newman posted a YouTube video of himself running down Kloof Street in Cape Town wearing nothing but his "rhino horn" and a helmet.

The skydiver completed his run all the way down the steep road on Thursday evening.

"There was a little traffic there: There wasn't hectic traffic, but there was traffic," Newman told News24 about his run which mimicked the Spoofing the traffic camera video from which he drew inspiration.

Locals who witnessed the run were generally supportive, Newman said, who sported the words "Save the Rhinos" on his back.

"People were hooting; taking photos. It was quite good; it wasn't like anything bad," he added.

Escalation

He wasn't ashamed of being seen naked in public, though he conceded that it was different to skydiving.

"I had a horn on, so it's no worse than a female wearing a G-string on Clifton First Beach," Newman said.

By Monday, the video had garnered over 10 000 YouTube views and Newman said that he had raised R61 000 for anti rhino poaching activities.

Rhino poaching has escalated in SA, with over 100 rhino having been killed in the country since the beginning of the year.

White rhino were nearly wiped out early in the 20th century, numbering only between 30 to 50 animals, and through the then Natal Parks Board and other agencies, the species recovered to about 20 000 in Africa.

Conversely, black rhino numbers declined rapidly due to poaching from about 70 000 in 1970, to 2 500 in 1990.

Newman will be participating in the Holi One Colour festival in Cape Town as well as the 2013 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon.

"I'm running the Two Oceans half... with a horn on and the [Cape] Argus [Pick n Pay Cycle Tour]."


- Follow Duncan on Twitter
 

- News24