Creating a Safe Place for Orphaned Rhinos
Rhino poaching has devastating consequences beyond the tragic loss of life—rhino calves are often left alone, traumatized, and vulnerable following poaching attacks on female rhinos and breeding herds. With underdeveloped horns that offer little financial value, these young calves are usually not targeted or killed. However, it is common for them to run away or hide during poaching attacks, leaving them stranded and at risk.
Our Work: Rapid Rhino Response & Rescue
At Saving Private Rhino, we deploy a Rapid Rhino Response team that is always ready to act when a poaching incident occurs. From tracking poachers to providing emergency care for injured rhinos, every second counts in our fight to save these animals. But our work doesn’t stop there. We also focus on Orphaned Rhino Care, ensuring that the youngest victims of poaching have a chance at a new life.
Wildlife Conservation
Rapid Rhino Response
Orphaned Rhino Care
Rhino Rescue Centre
Animal Rescue Centre (ARC)
Here, at the Western Cape wildlife and Animal Rescue Centre (ARC), we are at the forefront of anti-poaching and rhino rescue initiatives across Southern Africa.
The establishment of the Rhino Orphanage and the “Orphaned Rhino Calf Initiative” is a core component of our ongoing efforts to protect and rescue endangered rhino populations in the Western Cape and South Africa.
The Rhino Orphanage
This initiative has become increasingly critical as the rise in poaching incidents has left many rhino calves in dire need of 24-hour care and emergency support. Severe dehydration concerns required urgent medical attention.
Our rhino orphanage remains committed to providing specialised care and support to these vulnerable baby rhinos, who are often left traumatised and severely injured as a result of poaching.
Saving Private Rhino
The Saving Private Rhino team faces the heartbreaking responsibility of responding to poaching scenes, not only to track and apprehend the poachers, or attempt to save brutally injured rhinos, but also to locate and rescue any orphaned calves. These young rhinos are threatened by dehydration, predators, and exposure to the elements. Even with the help of our dedicated conservation team and veterinary experts, it’s a race against the clock to save these young and vulnerable rhinos who have had the hardest start to their already threatened existence.
Since its conception. The Rhino Orphanage has proved to be a valuable and much-needed organisation within the ongoing fight against rhino-poachers.
Poaching is not the only cause for concern. Many rhino calves are left orphaned or abandoned for a variety of natural causes, from encounters with predators, territorial males, injuries, or even human interference. Recently, a desperate situation unfolded at Aquila Private Game Reserve, where a newborn rhino calf was rejected by its mother. It was therefore up to our team at the rhino orphanage to rescue the rhino calf and provide necessary life-saving care to the merely hours-old rhino.
Orphaned Rhino Calf Initiative
Your support is crucial. Continuous donations from the public are needed to sustain and expand this critical, but expensive, endeavour. Your contributions can make a significant difference in safeguarding the future of South Africa’s rhinos. providing them a second chance in life at the Animal Rescue Centre’s Rhino Orphanage.
- $10 can provide a day’s worth of specialised care for a baby rhino.
- $50 can help purchase vital medical supplies.
- $200 can support a week of 24-hour veterinary care.
Hope for the Future
One of our recent rescues, a young rhino calf named Hope, was found severely dehydrated and alone after her mother was killed by poachers. Thanks to the quick response from our team and the around-the-clock care provided at the orphanage, Hope has made a miraculous recovery.
She is now thriving in a safe environment, with a future that looks much brighter. Stories like Hope’s are made possible by the generosity of people like you.
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