New WC rhino orphanage cares for first calf

A new Western Cape rhino orphanage, which is the first of its kind in the province, is now a place to call home for a five-week-old orphaned rhino, who travelled 17 hours to reach this safe haven.

A media statement issued by the Saving Private Rhino initiative stated that the male calf was the first orphan to arrive at the new orphanage at the Aquila Private Game Reserve after an Mpumalanga farmer found him suckling from his mother, who had died of infection. The farmer subsequently contacted the Searl Derman of the Saving Private Rhino initiative.

In the “about us” section on its Facebook page the Saving Private Rhino initiative says it “has been established to ensure the future conservation of Africa’s rhino and wildlife heritage by providing the most comprehensive integrated anti-poaching solution available to every private game reserve in Africa that needs assistance defending its wildlife”. 

It was established after a poaching incident at the Aquila Private Game Reserve in 2011, which saw three rhinos attacked.

Both Derman and a young boy, Hunter Mitchell, who raised more than R100 000 for the care of another orphaned calf, have committed to assisting this new orphan.

The Saving Private Rhino initiative said the reserves in the Western Cape had an advantage over the reserves in other provinces by not being plagued with snares, subsistent bushmeat poachers or opportunistic poachers.

ALSO READ: SA is still losing three rhinos a day – WWF-SA

Along with rearing orphaned rhinos, the team will rehabilitate and release rhinos with facial and respiratory injuries due to incidents of poaching.

Saving Private Rhino – an initiative posted the news of the calf’s arrival on its Facebook page:

A screenshot of the post on the Saving Private Rhino Facebook page. Picture Facebook

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