Earlier this year the Cockington Chocolate Company smothered one of Paignton Zoo’s medium-sized rhino models in an incredible 15 kilos of quality chocolate. The stunning creation – named Savanna – has now been raffled, raising nearly £1,000 for rhino conservation.
Chocolatier Tony Fagan based his extraordinary creation on one of the Project’s standard medium-sized fibre-glass rhinos. “I then sculpted the horn, ears, ribs, folds and eyes working from photographs – I wanted it to look as real as possible.” The Belgian chocolate used is certified palm oil free.
Jenny Paton, Fundraising Manager for Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, said: “The total raised by the raffle is £997.80, including donations. It’s an amazing sum. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets.” The winner - Pam Rein, of Paignton, will walk – or more likely stagger – away with the medium-sized rhino model and the hefty 15 kilos of chocolate.
The Great Big Rhino Project put a free public art trail of life-size painted rhinos around the streets, parks and open spaces of Exeter and the English Riviera, encouraging thousands of people to enjoy the spectacle. Most of these will be auctioned on 3rd November. The surplus from the project will be used by Paignton Zoo to support Javan and Sumatran rhino conservation via Save the Rhino International.
