This post is part of a Dodo series focused on endangered species.
Go to racingextinction.com to learn about an upcoming film on
threatened animals and an event sponsored in part by The Dodo.
Go to racingextinction.com to learn about an upcoming film on
threatened animals and an event sponsored in part by The Dodo.
So far this year, at least 736 rhinos have been killed at the hands
of poachers in South Africa, putting 2014 on track to being the
worst year on record in terms of rhino lives lost. But while the
tragedy of poaching is often associated with images of
bloodied bodies brutally robbed of their horns, the most
heartbreaking part of the illicit practice can be seen in the
faces of those survivors it leaves behind.
of poachers in South Africa, putting 2014 on track to being the
worst year on record in terms of rhino lives lost. But while the
tragedy of poaching is often associated with images of
bloodied bodies brutally robbed of their horns, the most
heartbreaking part of the illicit practice can be seen in the
faces of those survivors it leaves behind.
Earlier this month, conservationists from
Protrack Anti-Poaching Unit shared the heartbreaking story of
a young female rhino calf who was found wandering alone
along a roadside in South Africa’s Kruger National Park,
likely after having lost her mother to poachers.
Protrack Anti-Poaching Unit shared the heartbreaking story of
a young female rhino calf who was found wandering alone
along a roadside in South Africa’s Kruger National Park,
likely after having lost her mother to poachers.
Passing motorist Liam Burrough was among the first to
encounter the helpless animal, stopping to assist the baby rhino
beneath the hot African sun.
encounter the helpless animal, stopping to assist the baby rhino
beneath the hot African sun.
“Badly dehydrated, covered in wounds and clearly in desperate
search of shade, the calf approached my car. She called out into
emptiness, looked on for a moment and then rested her chin
on my door,” Burrough wrote on his Facebook page.
search of shade, the calf approached my car. She called out into
emptiness, looked on for a moment and then rested her chin
on my door,” Burrough wrote on his Facebook page.
“Slumping onto her hindquarters and then onto her belly she
caught a few moments of peaceful rest in our shadow. She had
undoubtedly lost her mother at this tender age to a poacher in this,
one of the hardest hit areas by poaching in the Kruger.”
caught a few moments of peaceful rest in our shadow. She had
undoubtedly lost her mother at this tender age to a poacher in this,
one of the hardest hit areas by poaching in the Kruger.”
.jpg)
As the group waited for park rangers to arrive to the scene,
they poured water to cool the young rhino’s baking skin.
Burrough says he tried to reassure the baby rhino that
she would be alright, noting that despite the horrible circumstances
that led up to that moment, the animal still seemed trusting of them.
they poured water to cool the young rhino’s baking skin.
Burrough says he tried to reassure the baby rhino that
she would be alright, noting that despite the horrible circumstances
that led up to that moment, the animal still seemed trusting of them.
“The tragic irony in all of this being that the calf had approached
the very creatures who are responsible for her being orphaned
in search of comfort,” Burrough wrote.
the very creatures who are responsible for her being orphaned
in search of comfort,” Burrough wrote.
.jpg)
The rhino calf, who has yet to be named, was later sent to recover at Care For Wild Africa’s wildlife rehabilitation center, where she joined a group of others left orphaned by poachers.
Her caregivers report that she is doing “extremely well,”
though given the rhino’s young age, there’s a chance
she’ll never be returned to the wild.
though given the rhino’s young age, there’s a chance
she’ll never be returned to the wild.
.jpg)
