Help Raise Orphaned Baby Rhinos

We are pleased to report that both Angie and Eve are now fully weaned and ready to begin the next phase of their development. Angie received her last milk feed in the middle of October and had to get used to the idea that she was no longer getting her slurpies in along with Eve. Thankfully, like the others before her, she quickly adjusted to not getting any milk.

Eve’s turn to receive her last milk feed happened at the end of November, so she too is a big girl now. Both Angie and Eve are doing well without their milk and are still steadily munching on their lucerne meals.

Another important event occurred during October with the calves receiving their very first horn trimmings. Angie and Eve were not part of this procedure because they are still too young and their horns need to develop further. Thaba, Bula, Peter and Mango all had their horns trimmed. Rhino horns are made from keratin just like our fingernails and toenails, so they grow back. While we would prefer them never to undergo this procedure, all precautions are taken to ensure their safety from being poached.

The rhino dehorning procedure

First the rhinos are darted to sedate them. Their eyes are covered with a mask which also helps to keep them calm and ear plugs are inserted to lower the noise of the saw. A veterinary surgeon is present to mark the positions where the horns can be taken off and once this is done, the remaining stumps are smoothed. The rhinos are then given time to get back up again and recover.

The procedure is observed by a member of the Conservation department, and the horns are taken away to an undisclosed location for the protection of all concerned.

All the rhinos are doing well and enjoying the lush green bush now prevalent during the South African summer months.

It has been a hive of activity at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, with all 7 rhinos now together in a boma overnight - and enjoying their daily adventures around the Centre during the day.

Pedi sheep Mielie and Liquorice are of course always on hand to help with discipline, should surrogate mom Esmé need assistance. Mielie also loves to initiate what she hopes would turn into a play session by head butting one of the rhinos every now and then.

When it comes to milk feed schedules, Angie and Eve are both down to just 2 feeds per day. Angie is receiving 8 litres (around 2 gallons) of milk twice a day, while Eve is receiving 6 litres (around 1,85 gallons) of milk twice a day. Angie will be fully weaned on the 15^th of October, when she will receive her final milk feed. Eve will follow on the 1^st of December with her final milk feed.

Another activity which is due to take place soon will be the dehorning of all the rhinos, apart from Angie and Eve. While we would love to never have to see rhinos with stumps for horns, it is a necessary procedure which offers an extra layer of protection against poaching. Rhino horns are made from keratin (like human nails) and therefore grow back. This means that dehorning a rhino is not a once-off process.

Until our next update, please continue to follow all our news on our various social media platforms.