Wildlife Conservation South Africa Project #34492

Big Rhinos Need Big Hearts Too

by Wildlife Conservation Trust

Project Report | Sep 9, 2019
Big Rhino's Need Big Hearts Too - September 2019 Update

By Lerissa van Biljon | Project Leader

Ike and Phillpa just after their release.

An Update on our Big Rhino's Need Big Hearts Too Campaign

Through GG we have raised a staggering $17,821 so far since the project was launched mid-2018. We would hereby like to say THANK YOU to every person that has supported our big rhinos project! We are extremely grateful for all the donations and support over the last year.

An update on the Rescued Rhinos @ HESC

The last few months have held some amazing changes for the rhino crash at HESC with 6 of our 13 rhino’s released back into the wild.

We previously mentioned the release of Lion’s Den and Dingle Dell, which we have seen a few times over the past months. They are doing well in their new environment and have even been seen with a rhino bull nearby.

Five years after arriving at HESC, Gertjie and Matimba, fully rehabilitated, robust, confident and strong rhino bulls were able to sustain themselves; our job was done and they were ready to start their new journey, their second chance at life. They were successfully released in June 2019. We are still monitoring them now and again to keep track of their wellness and stress levels.

Phillipa and Ike, our other two poaching victims, were released in August 2019 once they received their final clearance from the vet. We will also keep monitoring them for any change in their stress levels and wellness.

Our other members of the crash are also doing well.

Esme, the youngest, is growing bigger and bigger by the day. Since she was weaned in April, she loves exploring her piece of land more and more with her best friend, Mielie, following her around and keeping her company.

Khulula, Olivia, Lulu, Nlhanhla, Stompie and Balu are all doing well. They especially love their morning runs behind the HESC truck.

Funding

Funds raised from the Big Rhino Need Big Hearts Too project allow us to continue to rehabilitate, protect and give sanctuary where needed to this endangered species.

Thank you for your contribution towards these beautiful animals. Please continue to support us where you can.

Nhlanhla, Lula, Olivia en Khulula

Esme and her friend, David, the Anatolian Shepherd

Gertjie and Matimba, after their release.

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Jun 13, 2019
UPDATE ON OUR RHINO FAMILY

By Ricki Kirschner | Ricki Kirschner

Gertjie and Matimba

Big Rhinos Need Big Hearts Too

The Big Rhinos Need Big Hearts Too project was launched nine months ago, with a target set at USD118 536, of which we have raised USD9 983 so far. THANK YOU to everyone that has followed and supported the project! We are extremely grateful.

The Rescued Rhinos @ HESC
It has been so heart-warming to witness the changes among our incredible crash of rhinos and to see them all going from strength to strength. Watching their unique personalities play out and the bonds between them developing is truly beautiful. One thing that unites them all is a continuous improvement and growing comfort in themselves and their environments. They are a beloved part of our family and give us as much hope and inspiration as we have tried to give them.

WHAT HAVE OUR RHINOS BEEN UP TO?

Esme
From the 1^st of April, Esme has been weaned off milk. She is not at all taken aback by not getting her bottle anymore – as long as she can go out and play with Lammie on the HESC grounds, she is happy. She is very well-behaved and by 6pm she is back in the boma, ready for her nightly routine.

Gertjie and Matimba
Gertjie and Matimba are still inseparable as the day they met. Their close relationship is unbelievable to see. They can’t walk without the other one tagging along. Matimba is still the little brother in the relationship and hides behind Gertjie most of the time, while Gertjie plays the protector.

Olivia, Khulula, Nhlanhla and Lula
These four rhinos remain in the same roaming area and, except for Esme, they are still the youngest rhinos at HESC. They all continue to keep close to one another. They receive feedings of teff and lucern twice daily, though they prefer sniffing out and munching on the lucern most.

Stompie and Balu
Stompie and balu have been moved to a new roaming area. At first, they were confused by this and tried going back to their original roaming grounds. But once they realised that they had a new dam and that there were fun new smells and sights to explore, they started to feel more at home. They have an amazing brotherly bond and are never seen without each other.

Ike and Philippa
Ike and Philippa have been crazy-in-love from first sight. They are glued to each other. Philippa is the brave one, which is understandable since Ike is the one who has experienced the most suffering in life. We are very happy and impressed by Ike and Philippa’s progress.

Funding

Funds raised from the Big Rhino Need Big Hearts Too project allow us to continue to rehabilitate, protect and give sanctuary where needed to this endangered species.

Thank you for your contribution towards these beautiful animals. Please continue to support us where you can.

Esme

Ike and Philippa

Khulula, Olivia, Lula and Nhlanhla

Rescued Rhinos @ HESC

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Mar 21, 2019
Big Rhinos Need Big Hearts Too - Update

By Ricki Kirschner | Project Leader

The Big Rhinos Need Big Hearts Too project was launched six months ago, with a target set at USD100 000, of which we have raised USD7400 so far. THANK YOU to everyone that continues to follow and support the project!

Lion’s Den and Dingle Dell are doing well in the wild

In December 2018, the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) and the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) released two rhino cows back into the wild, after they were rehabilitated following a horrific rhino poaching attack that they fortunately survived.

They were both victims of a brutal poaching attack and were left for dead after the poachers managed to escape with their horns. With the help of dedicated wildlife vets we managed to successfully rehabilitate the rhinos.

We are happy to report that Lion’s Den and Dingle Dell were recently seen out in the wild. They were in the company of other rhinos, including an inquisitive male, which is very positive, though they were resisting his amicable approach.

Their bond with one another is clearly still very tight. It is great to see them looking healthy and strong in the wild!

More news from the Rescued Rhinos @ HESC

The WCT and HESC are delighted to announce a new partnership with the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, the first majority female anti-poaching unit in South Africa.

Three Black Mamba’s have joined our anti-poaching team, based at the HESC. These ladies will work hand in hand with our current K9 unit to put more boots (and paws), on the ground at HESC, to further strengthen the security of the rhinos in our care.

Funding

Funds raised from the Big Rhino Need Big Hearts Too project allow us to continue to rehabilitate, protect and give sanctuary where needed to this endangered species.

Thank you for your contribution towards these beautiful animals. We are extremely grateful. Please continue to support us where you can.

Yours in conservation,

The HESC and WCT team

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