Injured Baby Rhino Is Saved After Being Shot By Poachers Who Killed Her Mom

The Care for Wild Africa Rhino Sanctuary was contacted last Friday regarding a rescue of an 8 month old female calf from a reserve in the Mpumalanga region. Its mother was poached a few days before and only glimpses of the calf had been seen by the reserves anti-poaching unit who noticed that it had been shot in its front left leg.

A search and rescue team was deployed, however due to heavy rain the spoor (tracks) of the rhino calf was washed away. The small calf had also run to a section of the reserve where there was extremely thick bush that hindered the ability of the pilots who were scouting from the air. Nevertheless, extra trackers were called in from a neighboring farm to help in the search. Incredibly, nearly 8 days after the poaching incident and with hope fading that the calf may not survive, the helicopter called to say they had spotted it. Petronel, Veterinarian Dr. Albertus Coetzee and the reserves anti-poaching unit immediately set out to find and sedate the calf. The orphaned rhino was then transported immediately to the Care for Wild Africa Rhino Sanctuary and is undergoing treatment for the bullet wound.