Big Rhinos Need Big Hearts Too

Since our last report, the weather has started to change, with the southern hemisphere winter setting in. This means that the landscape is now revealing dryer grass with the occasional sparsely leaf-decorated tree.

Lula and Khulula

Because of this change in weather, Lula and Khulula’s lucerne and teff portions will be increased. In the wild, rhinos would be able to move around freely and go in search of more dense vegetation when the seasons change. However, being resident for the time being at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) means that the rhinos are kept in specific secure areas, and not able to move far away. For this reason, their food intake is monitored closely and substituted with the lucerne and teff as required.

When it comes to food digestion, a white rhino’s digestive tract is unlike other herbivores such as antelope and giraffe, who have chambered stomachs to repeatedly break down their food by means of specialised bacteria. Rhinos, instead, have a simple stomach, and rely on their caecum (which contains gut flora) to break down the food into simpler compounds before it reaches the large intestine.

Esmé

Esmé has proven to be a real star when it comes to the rhino calves. Both Bula and Peter (who has become Esmé’s little shadow) are now with her in the boma - along with Thaba, Mango, and pedi sheep Mielie and Liquorice. A full house indeed. They are kept in their boma from the late afternoon through to the early morning; when they are let out to roam freely around HESC.

Our hearts are warmed at the thought of all the rhinos doing so well, and we look forward to bringing you more stories as they go about their peaceful coexistence.

Links:

• Watch the rhinos live from their boma

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.