By Tanita Mehta

In 2014, misfortune struck the Greater Kruger as another innocent rhino fell victim to the onslaught of poaching brought on by the demand for illegal horns. 

Marion Geiger-Orengo and Fabrice Orengo de Lamazière, witnessing the brutality against these magnificent creatures on their doorstep, were compelled to act. They founded Rhino Disharmony—an unconventional response to a crisis that demands an unconventional solution.

Recognising the power of art to transcend the borders of language and culture, Rhino Disharmony wields art as a weapon against the relentless rhino poaching crisis. From visual campaigns to awareness events, Rhino Disharmony aims to reshape perceptions and build awareness around rhino horn consumption as a major contributor to the species’ endangerment and decline. 

By mobilising art and community, the initiative appeals directly to the user, focusing its efforts on the very source of the demand. Their approach involves collaborating with companies, creatives, and communities to amplify the voice against rhino poaching. 

An offshoot of Rhino Disharmony, The Saviours’ Army is an antithesis to the traditional army—a peaceful force working against the violence of rhino poaching. A legion of artists, creatives, and communities dedicate themselves to saving lives rather than taking them, protecting rhinos at all costs. Rhino Disharmony operates out of the Greater Kruger, alongside the Kruger National Park and private reserves like Umbabat and Timbavati. 

The rhino population in the Kruger has dwindled by nearly 80% since 2014, signalling an urgent need for action. South Africa is home to more than half of the 23,290 rhinos that remain in Africa. It is also where a large share of poaching incidents occur, making it the primary battleground for the survival of these creatures. Leading with a strong community focus, the organisation works on various fronts, from educating and building awareness among rhino horn consumers to funding anti-poaching initiatives and collaborating with creatives to communicate the devastating gravity of poaching. 

Rhino Disharmony consistently cooperates with various organisations and individuals, most recently with Lalela—an educational arts program for youth from under-resourced communities across South Africa and Zimbabwe. Through art, Lalela aims to inspire a new generation of leaders and foster a connection between creativity and active citizenship. 

In a project focused on conservation and our collective responsibility to the earth we inhabit, Lalela worked with their learners to produce a collection of scarves that celebrates the beauty of the rhino. As they continue to raise awareness and fight for the survival of this enigmatic species, Rhino Disharmony remains an inspiring example of how art and fashion can be powerful agents of change in the face of environmental crises.

Melissa Baird, the editor in chief of Life in Balance was the head of strategy at OgilvyEarth, the strategic sustainability agency that partnered with Marion and Fabrice to develop a creative campaign that would transcend borders and act as a powerful awareness raising tool to stop the demand for rhino horn. Through their collaborative efforts and the assistance of artists and musicians the first Rhino Disharmony campaign was launched. Ten years later the campaign has grown in strength and reaches out into the world to show solidarity against the scourge that is poaching. 

“I have been amazed to see how our first campaign that was launched at Motswari all those years ago had grown into a world-wide initiative involving hundreds of artists. This proves to me the determination of the founders, as stewards of the environment they manage, to remain in action and to do all they can to help.

Rhino poaching is a complex issue and art and music have the power to penetrate perceptions and create behaviour change. Rhino Disharmony is a campaign that transcends boundaries and unites all of us with the one call to action. Stop killing our rhinos.”





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