Save Orphaned and Injured Rhinos

Thank You

Your support makes our work possible. Month after month, you stand with us on the frontline of rhino conservation, ensuring that when the call comes, we can respond, rescue, and provide the critical care these animals so desperately need.

This quarter has been one of both challenge and hope. From the rescue of vulnerable orphaned calves to the expansion of life-saving facilities, and the celebration of new life in our protected populations, each moment reflects the direct impact of your commitment. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Wilson’s Story: A Fragile Beginning, A Fierce Fight

In January, a tiny rhino calf only a few days old was found alone in the Associated Private Nature Reserves within the Greater Kruger landscape, suffering from multiple severe injuries. A coordinated rescue involving veterinarians, helicopter support, park teams, and the Care for Wild team brought him safely to our Intensive Care Unit, where emergency stabilisation began immediately. Wilson was critically dehydrated, in shock, and had significant trauma to his ear and legs. Blood tests, X-rays, wound care, and intravenous treatment were all urgently needed to give him a chance at survival.

Wilson required round-the-clock intensive care, with dedicated staff feeding him, administering medication, changing bandages, and providing the comfort and reassurance every orphaned calf needs. Because he likely had not received vital antibodies from his mother, plasma transfusions were essential to strengthen his immune system, alongside intravenous nutrition to support healing. Cases like Wilson’s are complex and uncertain, but they represent the reality of the work your ongoing support makes possible, giving even the most fragile calves a fighting chance at life.

Wagu, Nguni and Abbey’s Story

In February, two young male rhino calves were found alone in Kruger National Park, far too young to survive without their mothers. A complex rescue operation involving park teams, veterinarians, helicopter crews, and Care for Wild staff was launched immediately. Challenging terrain meant one calf, Nguni, had to be airlifted to safety, while the older calf, Wagu, was transported by ground. Despite extreme heat and incoming storms, both calves were stabilised and brought safely to Care for Wild, where they were reunited within an hour of arrival, an important moment of comfort in an unfamiliar environment.

While Nguni adapted quickly, Wagu’s condition and wounds were far more serious. He received intensive care, including fluids, plasma transfusions, nutritional support, and pain management, but despite every effort, Wagu passed away peacefully in his sleep. The day before his passing, another rescued calf, Abbey, arrived at the sanctuary, and Nguni immediately became a source of comfort and companionship for her. Their bond formed quickly, showing how even in loss, there can be healing, and how every rescue creates a ripple effect of support for other vulnerable calves.

The Opening of Our Rhino & Wildlife Clinic

What began 12 years ago as just two small buildings has grown into one of the world’s leading specialised rhino care facilities. This year, a long-held vision became a reality with the opening of our purpose-built Rhino and Wildlife Clinic. Construction began in mid-2025 by converting an old barn into a dedicated treatment facility designed for critically ill rhinos and wildlife in need across the province. Before it was even fully completed, the clinic received its first patient, little Wilson, demonstrating just how urgently this facility was needed.

The clinic now provides a fully equipped space for advanced diagnostics and treatment, including X-ray capability, blood analysers, anaesthetic equipment, and specialised therapy units. It also includes a viewing and teaching area, creating opportunities for learning alongside care. This facility marks a significant step forward in the level of treatment we can provide, strengthening our ability to respond quickly, diagnose accurately, and deliver the highest standard of care to every animal that comes through our gates.

The Opening of Our Juvenile High Care Unit

This quarter also saw the expansion of our Juvenile Rhino High Care Unit to meet the growing need for specialised care for older orphaned calves. While our ICU is designed for very young and critically ill calves, this new facility provides a vital transitional space for older, stronger, and often more stressed rhinos during admission, triage, and stabilisation. Designed specifically for their needs, the unit allows our team to deliver essential treatment while reducing stress and supporting a smoother adjustment into rehabilitation.

The reinforced facility includes specialised night pens, a treatment and observation area, and systems for unobtrusive 24-hour monitoring. Wagu and Nguni were the first calves to benefit from this new space, where the outdoor area allowed them to rest in the sun and begin grazing naturally. As more older calves are rescued, facilities like this are essential, ensuring we can continue to adapt and provide the right level of care at every stage of a rhino’s recovery journey.

Celebrating New Life

Since January 2026, five rhino calves have been born within our protected populations, including a critically endangered black rhino calf. Each birth is a powerful reminder that conservation is not only about rescuing orphaned rhinos, but about securing the future of the species by building healthy, breeding populations in safe environments. Every calf born strengthens the genetic diversity and resilience of the population, representing a vital step toward ensuring rhinos can survive for generations to come.

One especially meaningful milestone is the continued success of rhinos that were once rescued as orphans and are now raising calves of their own. These births reflect the full circle of conservation, from rescue to rehabilitation, to release, and ultimately to new life. Each calf born is a symbol of hope and a testament to the long-term impact of this work, made possible through consistent, ongoing support.

Every rescue, every treatment, every new life is made possible because of your continued support. Your commitment allows us to respond when it matters most, to care for the most vulnerable, and to keep building a future where rhinos can thrive in the wild.

Thank you for standing with us, for believing in this work, and for being part of something that is truly making a difference.