Shark Angels Celebrate as Durban Harley Owners Commit to Support Local Shark Scientist

Date: 2013-02-07

Last Friday, the Durban Chapter of the Harley Owners Group met at their club in Umhlanga to welcome new members and to introduce their chosen charity for 2013. Each year, the Chapter raises money by hosting charity rides for non-members wanting the Harley experience, and through sponsorships, rally fees and the Poker Run at their annual July Duma rally. Tickets to ride with the Chapter retail at R300 each, 50% of which goes directly to their adopted charity- last year, the Durban HOGs raised R60000 for charities including 'Dreams for Africa' in Winterton, CHOC, Nashua Children's Charity Foundation and the SPCA Durban & Coast.

This year, the Chapter has chosen to support Shark Angels, a conservation organisation that campaigns for the protection of shark species worldwide. The money raised by the HOGs will go towards a very specific aspect of the Shark Angels' work, funding the invaluable research being carried out on the KZN coast by scientist and Angel Jessica Escobar-Porras. Jessica's work is currently focused on establishing the population genetics of blacktip sharks in the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area, with the aim of achieving protected status for them in the near future. The blacktips constitute a primary draw for the world-famous dive tourism industry around Scottburgh and Umkomaas, and are therefore a valuable source of income for the area as well as a vital part of the marine ecosystem.

Shark Angels spends a considerable amount of its time attempting to alter the common perception that sharks are nothing more than mindless killers. Similarly, Paul recounts anecdotes of mothers warning their children to stay away from the bikers while on outrides: these are people who understand what it is to have an undeserved bad reputation. In reality, sharks kill just four people on average per year worldwide; in reality, the majority of the Durban HOGs are in their fifties, and are parents themselves. In fact, the committee for this year is dominated by women, with a lady named Gillian Scott holding the position of head road captain.

There is obviously a positive side to the fame of the Harley name as well, and the image that goes with it. It is the reason that the Durban HOGs get requests from companies and individuals to go on charity rides, and the Chapter hopes that it will be able to use the brand to bring attention to the Shark Angels' cause. January's rides have already generated R4000 for the Angels, which will go towards funding the next round of Jessica's genetic sampling. Julie Andersen says of the new collaboration, "the Shark Angels are thrilled to be partnering with the Durban HOG chapter to give sharks a chance. There is so much work to be done in South Africa in terms of shark education, awareness, tolerance and research - and the HOGs are truly giving us the wings to fly to all new heights."

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