Anyone who thinks all sheep are followers has never met a companion sheep, and they’ve certainly never met Mielie! When she’s not busy being a beloved companion to rhino orphans, Mielie’s leading the crash in the race back to the boma (and potentially training for a marathon). Have a look at the adorable clip!
Hoedspruit, South Africa (02 April 2025) — It’s true that sheep are herd animals, but that doesn’t mean all sheep are destined for a life within a flock of followers. Companion sheep or nanny lambs, for example, are known for taking the lead in their nurturing roles as they comfort young, orphaned wild animals like rhinos. A keen example of a powerhouse pedi lamb who isn’t afraid to take the lead is the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre’s Mielie!
Recently, Mielie won the afternoon race back to the boma, beating another lamb and a small crash of rhinos. The video itself is adorable (how often do you see sheep and rhinos taking a jog together?) and a reminder of the special role sheep play in helping the young animals socialise. Also, we wouldn’t be surprised if we caught Mielie at the next Comrades with her determination!
Watch: Rhinos and Sheep Take a Jog while Mielie Takes the Lead
Mielie joined the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre in 2018 as a young lamb. She was quickly introduced to Esmé the rhino as a companion, and all these years later, the two are still as thick as thieves.
Why Do Orphaned Rhinos Need Sheep?
As the Hoedspruit Endangered Species team explains:
“Sheep make excellent companion animals for orphaned wildlife and also make great surrogates, as they take on any species as their own.”
This goes a long way for an animal that’s been through a lot of trauma (many of the rhinos have lost their parents to poaching or have narrowly survived poaching incidents themselves), and helps provide a sense of security in what can be an anxious first few months at the orphanage.
The duos nap together in bomas, go on walks, share meals and grow up together.
However, the bond between the animals often remains long after the rhinos grow up.
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Sources: Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre; GTG
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