The first baby rhino has arrived at South Africa’s newly created rhino orphanage with a completely undisclosed location, aimed at rehabilitating and keeping rhinos safe.
The Aquila reserve said last month they would not disclose the exact location of the orphanage for the rescued calves‚ in the interests of their rehabilitation and security.
Searl Derman‚ who heads up the Saving Private Rhino NGO‚ said they received a call from a farmer in the Mpumalanga area who had found the calf suckling from his deceased mother early one morning. She had died during the night from an infection.
The young male travelled by road for 17 hours with conservationist Divan Grobler‚ who had spent 10 days stabilizing the baby rhino and gaining his trust before the journey to the private Aquila Private Game Reserve.
Grobler has also spent the past 14 months hand-rearing another calf‚ Osita‚ that was found abandoned by his mother on the reserve.
The yet-to-be-named baby was welcomed by Searl and Hunter Mitchell‚ the schoolboy who has already raised over R100‚000 for the care of Osita.
Hunter‚ who turns 10 next week‚ intends to fundraise for the new baby rhino too‚ starting off the donations with his birthday money.
“Welcome little guy… On Sunday Osita got a baby brother. He is so cute and very cheeky. His mom died of an infection and the special people at Aquila Private Game Reserve are doing everything they can to give him the best chance just like Osita. I love him just as much as Osita already!”
“We really need all your help to make this possible. He needs milk, and medicine and that costs R5000 a month.”
“Every little bit counts…”
“For Osita all your little bits has reached over R100000 so please help me do the same for this little one!!! Head to to make your little contribution to our heritage: http://savingprivaterhino.org/donate“
“Remember to let me know when you have donated so I can send you one of my special digital rhino art prints.”
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