Rohit Sharma to visit Kenya in September to meet 'big guy'

Bengaluru, Sep 9: Ahead of the South Africa series at home, India's batsman Rohit Sharma will make a special visit to Kenya this month to meet a "big guy".

T20 team selection on September 18

Rohit will bat for a cause this September when he travels to Kenya to help save the rhinos. The right-handed batsman revealed this on his Twitter page today (September 9). "Can't wait to meet you big guy! Let's help save this species from extinction," Rohit tweeted on Wednesday.

The cricketer from Mumbai will visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya to pledge his support to rhinos. "The Ol Pejeta Conservancy - a 90,000-acre private wildlife conservancy - is situated on the equator, in Kenya's Laikipia District, between the foot hills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kenya.

"The Ol Pejeta Conservancy boasts an astounding variety of animals, including the Big Five (the endangered black and white rhino, leopard, elephant, buffalo and lion), Grevy's zebra, Jackson's hartebeest, cheetah and chimpanzee," according to the conservancy's website.

"From a working cattle ranch in colonial Kenya, to a trailblazer of conservation innovation - the story of Ol Pejeta is as enchanting as it is inspirational.

"Today, Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa, and home to three of the world's last remaining northern white rhino. It is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, in a Sanctuary established to rehabilitate animals rescued from the black market.

"It has some of the highest predator densities in Kenya, and still manages a very successful livestock programme. Ol Pejeta also seeks to support the people living around its borders, to ensure wildlife conservation translates to better education, healthcare and infrastructure for the next generation of wildlife guardians," it added.

Rohit and his India team-mates will return to action next month when they face South Africa in limited overs and Test series. The tour starts on October 2 with a Twenty20 International.

Can't wait to meet you big guy! Let's help save this species from extinction @OlPejeta @TurkishAirlines pic.twitter.com/c66acDAT2n

— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) September 9, 2015

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