By Petronel Nieuwoudt | Founder & CEO
At Care for Wild, we are excited to share some of our latest achievements and developments in our conservation efforts and community projects over the last seven months. Since November 2024, we have celebrated the birth of eight new rhino calves born to rehabilitated and released orphans. These births bring our total number of rhino births to 16, a testament to our success in establishing sustainable and viable populations for rhinos and proving that orphaned rhinos can be successfuly rehabilitated and released into healthy protected ecosystems.
Our veterinary team has also been busy with some of our rhinos. Cotton, a four-year-old rhino orphan, sustained a deep wound on her back right foot, likely from playing with other rhinos in the veld. Our team, alongside veterinarian Dr. Chris Smith, cleaned and treated the wound, applying specialised dressings and administering pain relief and antibiotics. Her foot has now fully healed.
Concerns were also raised about released orphan Tana, who showed signs of a decline in condition while caring for her six-month-old calf, Trail, her first baby. After thorough examinations by veterinarians Dr. Cobus Raath and Dr. Chris Smith, it was discovered that Tana had lost a tooth, which was likely causing her discomfort. With her mouth now healed, Tana appears to be eating well again, and both mother and calf are doing very well.
We faced a challenging time with our released rhino, Busiso, who recently fell seriously ill with a high fever and reluctance to eat or drink. Despite around-the-clock supportive care, his condition did not improve, prompting us to call veterinarian Dr. Chris Smith. After darting Busiso, Dr. Smith administered supportive treatment and prescribed medication to reduce his fever. He began eating some food and taking his medication, cleverly hidden in a tasty rhino treat. We are pleased to report that after several days of round the clock care and monitoring, Busiso has recovered.
Our community initiatives have made significant strides. The Rhino School of Conservation kicked off the new year with engaging lessons for Junior Rangers, which developed further into after-school lessons in Maths, English, and reading. Care for Wild provides a safe space for local children to learn and play sports. Moreover, the Rhino Cup Soccer Tournament was launched and aims to empower young men in local communities, fostering self-confidence, self-respect, and community bonds through sports. There are now 24 adult teams playing. We also launched the Community Livestock Health and Welfare Project, providing vaccinations and health checks for cattle and dogs, which helps improve overall livestock management and welfare standards.
In a significant milestone, we celebrated the first macadamia harvest from the Lomshiyo Community Farming Project. After four years of intense work, we harvested an impressive 1.4 tonnes of macadamia nuts. This project, run in partnership with the Lomshiyo Community, is a testament to our commitment to providing training and employment opportunities for local people. The successful harvest underscores the dedication and hard work invested in the project and marks a promising start to future agricultural initiatives.
We proudly saw six new Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) members and 17 new recruits graduate, underscoring our commitment to strengthening our anti-poaching measures and enhancing our protection capabilities.We also experienced an emotional moment as we bid farewell to our retiring K9 heroes, Alpha and Reaper. Their service has been integral to our Anti-Poaching Unit, showing unparalleled bravery and dedication in ensuring the safety of our rhinos and community. Their bond with their human partners has been a privilege to witness. We then welcomed K9 Bekah, supported by Global Conservation Force, into our team. Bekah’s arrival marks a new chapter in our ongoing efforts to enhance security and protection measures at the sanctuary, further bolstering our anti-poaching capabilities.
This year, we are acknowledging a decade of dedicated conservation. From humble beginnings, we have grown into a world-leading rhino care and conservation facility. We remain steadfast in our commitment to rescuing, rehabilitating, and protecting rhinos as well as delivering a sustainable conservation model with communities at the heart.
Thank you to each and every one of you for standing beside us. Thank you for donating and supporting our work. We see you and we appreciate you.
Save Rhinos, Save People, Save Tomorrow.
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