If you had to ask any rhino, they’d tell you that all mud baths are pretty significant. But for one young white rhino, rolling around in muddy delights came with a whole new meaning of freedom.
South Africa (30 April 2025) — It’s no secret that a mud bath is pretty high-up on a rhino’s ‘favourite things to do’ list. However, for one young white rhino named Hercules, a recent dip in the mud was even more significant.
Unlike other rhinos at the Care for Wild Sanctuary (a large safe space for orphaned rhinos on their way to rewilding), little Hercules hadn’t had the luxury of batting his eyelids to persuade a carer into letting him enjoy his muddy delights. He was too busy getting better on most days, and on others, fighting for his survival.
See, Hercules had been in the ICU for many months. Rescued in October, Hercules had already gone through a lot in his little life; including having been attacked by a hyena.
This attack left him with severe injuries and wounds that became infected. On top of this, there were crush damages which called for a plethora of tests and all kinds of antibiotics.
Hercules fought hard and still managed to reach important milestones despite being part of the furniture at the ICU. At the beginning of this year, he hit his milestone weight, and just a handful of days ago on 25 April, he made the big move to the rehabilitation facility.
“Moving from the ICU means he’ll now be closer to the other rhinos, with more space to increase his exercise and new sights, smells and sounds to provide fantastic mental stimulation for this inquisitive young calf,” the Care for Wild team shared.
But if you had to ask Hercules what his favourite milestone has been, he’d probably tell you it was getting to relish in a mud bath once more!
Watch: A Big Deal of a Mud Bath for a Little White Rhino
“The care team did their best—smearing mud on the parts of his body that weren’t injured in order to [lift] his spirits, but it just didn’t compare to the pure joy of the real thing,” the team beamed.
One rhino’s mud bath, another’s sense of freedom, hope and healing.
Hercules will continue to receive all the care he needs (veterinary, physiotherapy and hands-on feeding). However, now he’ll finally feel a little more part of the crash with bestie Philip the Sheep close at his side.
You can find out more about supporting Hercules (and even virtually adopting him!) here.
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