Rhino Boy Chris

What would you do if you found out your best friends were in trouble? Whatever it takes right? Well that’s how I feel about Rhinos!

My name is Rhino Boy Chris and I’ve loved rhinos for as long as I can remember. As I grew up and discovered the threat they faced from extinction, I knew I had to act! So that’s why for the best part of the last two decades I’ve been doing everything possible to try and help my favourite animal. Campaigning for the charity I am so proud to represent – Save the Rhino International. Running events, far and wide, more often than not in a huge rhino costume. All to help my “best friends” and help raise awareness to their plight.

You see, with 3 of the 5 species of rhino classified as “critically endangered” this mission has never been more important. To date, I’ve now run 106 marathons and ultra marathons dressed as a rhino and don’t intend on stopping as long as they need saving!

With a heart fuelled by love I’ve been lucky enough to achieve Guinness World Records along the way (Fastest Marathon Dressed as a Mammal (London Marathon, 2021). Whilst in a bid to inspire a love of rhinos in the next generation I’ve written a children’s book – Matumaini, The Rhinos’ Hope and now regularly visit schools all around the UK in my role as Save the Rhino Ambassador.

Helping rhinos continually drives me, but so does the opportunity to see so many smiling, happy faces from the rhino costume as I run by and has become the joy of my life. I have learned how much we can achieve and all the good we can generate when we all work together and it’s filled my heart with so much hope.

Rhinos are beautiful, peaceful, gentle animals that represent everything in this world that we need to protect. They are an “umbrella species” which means they are an integral part of the wider environment and any threat to them is a threat to an entire ecosystem. So Save the Rhino are working tirelessly not only to look after this magnificent species but also to support both the brave Ranger hero’s who put their lives on the line to protect them and the communities all around the conservancies and reserves of Africa and Asia.

In so many ways this means that saving rhinos, is so benefiting wider conservation, preserving the environment and improving peoples lives. I LOVE Rhinos but as you can see, this is so much more besides. 🌍 ❤️🦏