Today in Lansing: Fight rhino poaching and habitat destruction with Bowling for Rhinos Aug. 3

Bowling for Rhinos

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

$32 Individual, $104 For a Family of Four

City Limits East

2120 E. Saginaw Hwy.

Click Here for Event Page

Lansing zookeepers are inviting people to hit the lanes to raise funds for black rhino conservation.

Potter Park Zoo’s Phineus and Doppsee are part of only 57 black rhinos in the United States. Per the American Association of Zoo Keepers’ statistics, in 1960, 60,000 black rhinos roamed Africa — now there are only 2,500.

“We have recently been breeding them in hopes that they have offspring here,” said Melissa Lincoln, Potter Park Zoo’s American Association of Zoo Keepers chapter president.

“Rhino species are disappearing,” said Lincoln. “Everyone poaches rhinos for their horn, and it is made of nothing more than compounds of compressed hair.”

This will be Lansing’s fifth annual Bowling for Rhinos event, and Lincoln said it has grown drastically. “More people know and are excited about it. The first year we raised $2,500, and I wanted to do more. Last year we were able to raise $7,000 — the goal this year is $10,000.”

Lincoln said this increase is due to ample community support and networking. Starting in 1990, the American Association of Zoo Keepers national Bowling for Rhinos event has raised $7,242,619 for rhino conservation.

Other species benefit from rhino conservation as well, said Lincoln. Lincoln mentioned that rhinos are an “umbrella species” for the cheetahs, tigers and elephants that share their habitat.

Completely run by volunteers, Lincoln said that the best aspect of this event is the lack of overhead that cuts out funding. “When we send them money, 100 percent of it goes directly to the rhino conservation.”

If rhinos seem to be too rough and tumble, know that they have an artistic side as well.

“We will have paintings done by our rhinos at the event,” said Lincoln. “They have very sensitive lips like fingers. If you put paint at the end of their lip they will paint things — it's very beneficial for them.”

The price of admission grants attendees three hours of bowling, pizza, pop and access to participate in the silent auction and raffle. Auction and raffle Items include zoo memberships, riverfront kayaking, a cat basket with free neuter and spay from the humane society and donated photographs from Visions of Wildlife. T-shirts will also be for sale.

For more information on Bowling for Rhinos, visit www.aazk.org/bowling-for-rhinos

Today in Lansing:

Lansing Jazz Fest

5 p.m. to 11 p.m., MICA Gallery, 1210 Turner St.

Picnic Food Truck

5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ellison Brewery, 4903 Dawn Ave.

Foster Community Center 100th Birthday Block Party

3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Foster Community Center, 200 N. Foster Ave.