Lindsey Jones from Selati Game Reserve said the Selati security manager found a carcass of a female white rhino on Tuesday, November 23. She said in spite of the fact that this rhino had been previously dehorned, the remaining horn had been removed by poachers and the animal died as a result of the injuries inflicted.
“The carcass could not be positively identified due to predator feeding and the Selati research team could therefore not ascertain whether this particular rhino had a calf,” she said. Jones said the calf was only discovered nine days later at one of the Selati waterholes about 6km from the carcass by the counter-poaching team.
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She said the Selati research team immediately requested assistance from the vet, Dr Ben Muller, in order to immobilise and capture the calf. “The calf was successfully stabilised and airlifted to Care for Wild, a rhino orphan sanctuary. “Blood tests revealed that the calf was fighting an infection and was suffering from nutrient deficiencies. The calf has been treated by means of a fluid drip, is currently drinking well, and is thankfully gaining weight,” she said.
Jones said its condition will continuously be monitored and the necessary medical care will be provided. “It is assumed that the calf survived on his own by suckling from his dead mother in the days after she was poached and killed and possibly drinking water at the waterhole,” she said.
She told the Herald that the days following the cow’s death, the calf was captured on the research camera traps going back and forth from his mother’s carcass to the dam, and in some cases, with hyena’s not far behind him.
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“It was at the waterhole that the calf was found sleeping under a tree by himself, having survived nine days on his own,” she said. Jones said the calf is being carefully monitored by the founder of the Care for Wild sanctuary, Petronel Nieuwoudt, and her team. “He is a very quiet rhino and had learnt to hide very well when he was out in the bush by himself, because he is hiding in the pillows here too,” said Nieuwoudt.
She said despite this he is improving every day and has even made friends with an orphaned zebra foal. Jones said in a few years’ time they hope to see this tenacious rhino back in the wild sharing his gene’s with future generations of rhino. She further said Selati Game Reserve is very appreciative of, and grateful for, the outstanding work performed by Care for Wild.
To donate towards the medical and feeding care of the rhino calf please click on the donate button on the Selati Wilderness Foundations’ website www.selatiwf.org with reference “rhino calf” or deposit directly in the foundation’s bank account, bank details can be found on the website. All donations will be sent to Care for Wild. Follow them on Facebook to give your thoughts on a name for this tough little rhino.
