WITH just weeks to go before rhino sculptures start popping up across Southampton, a group of young people got the chance to get up close and personal with the real thing.
While Marwell Zoo’s Go! Rhinos project aims to create a fun day out and boost the economy, it also has a fundraising mission.
Once the trail of life-sized sculptures has ended, the rhinos will be auctioned off, raising money for Marwell, Wessex Heartbeat’s HIGH 5 Appeal and The Rose Road Children’s Appeal.
To celebrate, youngsters who have been helped by Wessex Heartbeat and Rose Road were allowed into the rhino paddock to meet Soula and Kiri.
One of those lucky enough to stroke the rhinos was seven-yearold Isobel, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is supported by Rose Road.
Another was Toby Taylor, two, who has heart defects, and his brother Oscar.
Mum Alex Taylor said: “It was an amazing experience for them both.
How many children get the chance to meet a rhino face to face?”
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