Orphaned Rhinos Find Safe Refuge In South African Sanctuary

[mellowyellow]

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Calves stay at the orphanage until the age of five, when they are deemed strong enough to defend themselves from predators​

Michele Spatari

Today the orphanage is home to a number of rhino calves. Most are of the square-lipped species, also known as white rhino, but some of the rarer critically endangered black rhino are also housed there..

Four staff and two volunteers, all women, work around the clock to nurse the rhinos, sometimes even sleeping next to the youngest calves in an open faced barn.

"We're their mothers," said manager Yolande Van Der Merwe, 38. "They sleep very close for warmth and comfort.

"Someone brings (us) food, or if we want to take a dinner or a bathroom break someone comes to stay with them," she told AFP.

"As soon as they are left alone they start screaming."

Their cries are high-pitched, something like the sound of a dolphin, according to Van Deventer.

https://www.barrons.com/articles/or...uge-in-s-africa-sanctuary-01610372109?tesla=y

 

[Tish]

Awww That is so heartwarming.
I just hope that they can adjust to their release.

 

[Aunt Marg]

So lovely it is.

Three cheers for all of the caregivers.

 

[rgp]

About two ? years ago...... we had our Rhino born at the zoo, named Fiona . She was all the talk, news , etc. Tee shirts, coffee mugs, hats, etc.. She was hard not to hear about.

She was born about six weeks premature , and her mother would have nothing to do with her. So her handlers encouraged her to walk, swim, the whole bit. She is now about 3-400 pounds and doing just fine. I heard that when her handlers arrive at her enclosure, she still wants to "cuddle" with them ....... yeah right.