Newest Rescue's Story

At just two months old, this little white rhino calf was rescued by rangers and reserve management after her mother became severely malnourished and was no longer able to produce enough milk to feed her.

The dry conditions had taken a serious toll on her mother, and as her condition deteriorated, so too did the condition of her calf. By the time they were found, the little calf had almost no reserves left. She was extremely thin, severely dehydrated and too weak to stand. Without emergency intervention, she would not survive.

She was given emergency treatment in the field before being carefully transported by helicopter and then vehicle to Care for Wild, where she was immediately admitted to the Rhino and Wildlife Clinic for critical care.

She arrived incredibly weak. She could not hold her own head up or suckle properly and needed intravenous fluids, rhino plasma and specialised intravenous nutrition to support her severely compromised little body. She also required treatment and pain relief for multiple painful abscesses in her feet caused by thorns.

For those first critical days, she was cared for around the clock by the caregiving team. Every feed required patience and dedication. She was initially syringe fed small amounts of milk, with her caregiver carefully supporting her head. Slowly, there were signs that she was beginning to respond.

She started swallowing more readily and, little by little, became strong enough to begin taking milk from a bottle. At first, she needed her head gently supported as she learned to suckle, but this small change was a significant moment. She was beginning to feed for herself.

Her strength continued to build. She started to suckle with more strength and purpose. Life was returning.

For such a young rhino who had arrived with so little strength, reaching this point was a significant step forward. She has a very long way to go in her rehabilitation journey but the care team will support her every step of the way.