Big Rhinos Need Big Hearts Too

Esmé is still thriving and enjoying her peaceful existence along with the other rhinos and her Pedi sheep assistants, Mielie and Liquorice. If you have been following us on social media; or have been keeping up with new information through GlobalGiving; you would have noticed that we have started a new project to specifically raise funds for land at HESC to be prepared in order to accommodate the rhinos in a larger, more secluded area – away from too much human interaction – but also secure enough to keep the poachers out.

While Esmé is the oldest, and currently the only rhino on this particular project, the other rhinos (apart from Angie and Eve) are also now bigger rhinos – and plans need to be made to begin the next steps in their rehabilitation. This is where the larger area of land comes into play. If you are a donor to this project, you would remember Lula and Khulula, who were released in October 2024. They resided on the exact land that now needs to be revived to accommodate the current HESC rhinos.

As funds are being raised, the guides, curators, and extra hired hands will use this money to get going on the hard work of clearing the overgrown bushes and preparing the roads to allow vehicles through. Once the project has been fully funded, the security upgrades can be put in place, and the rhinos can begin their move into this area. This crucial next step prepares them for release and a life back in the wild where they belong.

If you would like to contribute towards getting this land prepared, please see the link to our other project here: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/reviving-for-rewilding.

As always, we want to express our sincere gratitude to you all for supporting this project, which has been ongoing for many years now. You have helped to ensure that rhinos are rehabilitated and released – and that this conservation work continues.