Big Rhinos Need Big Hearts Too

At last, we have been blessed with some good rain and a much greener landscape. Our animals are thriving and there have also been a few new babies seen around the Centre.

Lula and Khulula

Our two rhino ladies spend their days in the bush and love to hide amongst the fresh shrubs. They are still fed one bale of lucerne and one bale of teff. This is because the new shoots of green grass contain mainly water and as such do not yet provide enough nutrition. Until the naturally growing grass can provide more nutrition, we will continue to feed them this combination. The teff bale is given to them to fatten them up, while the lucerne provides their nutrients. In typical female style, they are not too crazy about the teff and prefer the lucerne because it is sweeter. We ladies love our sugar, don’t we?

Even though zebras Zita and Loverboy are kept in an adjacent area separated by a cattle grid, Lula and Khulula’s flat rhino feet allow them to step over the grid and meander to the zebras from time to time for a visit.

Esmé

Esmé has been a busy big sister. Not only is she keeping Thaba company, but she has been slowly introduced to one of our new arrivals – baby rhino Bula. Bula is currently being kept in an adjacent boma but cannot wait to leave in the morning and spend time with the others, moaning to be let out when he hears their noises.

Baby rhino Peter, being a few months younger, is still in a separate area and the plan is for him too to be introduced.