Now that we have set most of the IWA 2013 & Outdoor Classics reports aside now, we come to ask for your attention as what we have promised Alan Covey of Thumpy's 3-D House of Airsoft, that the airsoft community, whether near or far, can actually make a difference in their own small way. You might or might not surprised but a growing group of airsofters are helping help save the Rhinos from extinction.

If you remember that last feature story we had about former operators helping the Rhinos, yes the plight of Rhinos is a serious international concern.

Leo and Ronaldo Fourie of Scarlet Tactical have been coordinating with Thumpy's 3-D House of Airsoft to help raise awareness on the situation of the Rhino population, and those tasked to their protection who are mainly wildlife rangers who are ill-equipped, poorly trained, undermanned, and even outgunned by poachers who are determined to even kill not only Rhinos, but the wildlife rangers themselves, to meet the demand for Rhino horns in the Far East, especially in Vietnam where they fetch high prices as shown in the illustration below:

With the dwindling Rhino population, poachers do not care about preserving these animals as the rarer the horns become, the higher the prices will these be (even if these horns absolutely have no medicinal effects as these are made up of keratin which is also found in our nails).

The resulting project is called OPERATION SCRAPS ('Softers Care: Airsoft Rhino Project South Africa) which is now a growing Facebook Group with a mission of  "Using airsoft as a training tool to train anti-poaching teams in a practical manner. And to provide them gear, to modernize their equipment, and to give them tools to do the job properly and get back home in one piece."

SCARLET Tactical are devoting their knowledge in tactical skills to help train the wildlife rangers go against the poachers, or even the Rhinos which sometimes can also attack those who protect them. And for the airsoft community, it would be great if any unused or unneeded gear that can be used by the wildlife rangers can be donated. These can be tactical clothing, vests, rigs, footwear, gloves,  hydration, eyewear and even money if you have some spare cash to donate as the protectors are underfunded too.  Airsoft guns are needed for firearms training as the wildlife rangers are to be armed to protect the rhinos and themselves against the poachers.

(Photo above: Anti-poaching students capture "poachers" who are actually instructors in the Scarlet Tactical Anti-Poaching Training)

Whatever help you can send their way would be appreciated so with the onset of Spring, better start doing some spring cleaning starting with the gear you have accumulated and find out which ones you don't need and would be willing to donate to the OPERATION SCRAPS.

If you have ideas that you think can help the cause, better join the Facebook Group. If you are an airsoft company which have some excess inventory of airsoft guns and gear that you would be willing to donate, then get in touch immediately.

Rhinos look like formidable animals which are hard to put down but they have become victims of modern weapons coupled by greed and a superstition that has no scientific basis. Let’s help their population survive in any way possible and  OPERATION SCRAPS offers a chance for the Airsoft Community to do its share.