At Rhino Africa, we are passionate and committed to conservation and saving Africa’s endangered wildlife. In light of World Rhino Day 2015 we took our efforts a step further by adopting baby rhino, Don. Between one and two months old, Don was orphaned when his mother was tragically killed by poachers.
Recently a few of us visited a tucked away rhino sanctuary, Care for Wild AFRICA, in South Africa, which today is Don’s home. The sanctuary is home to a crash of 25 rhinos who needed a drastic intervention after they were left as orphans following the poaching of their mothers. Some were left alone in the wild for up to 12 days before being rescued. Not only were they starving, but they were emotionally distraught, not understanding what was going on around them.
Chris and Petronel, both trustees of this sanctuary, are the real heros. They work day in and day out to nurture the orphans back to health (and happiness) so that one day they might be released back into wilderness areas.
Meet Don
We spent the day playing and feeding the youngest of the rhinos, taking in every moment. Don, a white rhino, made a special impact on our founder and CEO David. Entering the feeding ground with two rather large bottles of milk, Don was the first out the blocks aiming straight for David. Rubbing his nose against David’s leg waiting for his feed, we all knew he had grabbed hold of David’s heart.
When Don arrived at the rhino sanctuary he was estimated to be between one and two months old, and he was dangerously cold and hypoglycemic. After his mother was killed, Don was found on 24 July 2015 on a gravel road close to the Kruger National Park’s Phabeni Gate after attempting to seek shelter next to a car that had a similar colouring to him.
Kruger Park regional ranger, Don English (whom Don is named after), was dispatched to the scene, together with a veterinarian. Don was tranquilised and transferred into a military helicopter so that he could be relocated to Care for Wild. En route, Don went into cardiac arrest and the helicopter had to make an emergency landing.
“After three minutes of resuscitation and trying everything to save him… everyone involved was amazed – some with tear-filled eyes – when he gasped for air and his little heart started up again,” said the daughter of Don English.
Don now weighs in at a healthy 122kg. He is cared for and loved by Petronel and her team, and now also by the extended Rhino Africa family. For regular updates and images you can follow Don’s Facebook and Instagram accounts or you can keep an eye on our blog where we will be sharing his journey through blog posts and photo albums.
Don English – welcome to the team!
Keep an eye open for our next blog where we will be sharing exciting information and updates on how you can also get involved.
Nice story.
The instagram link is wrong, it should be rhino_don not rhinodon