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Mounting Danger for Rhinos | |
Security For a Significant Property and a Special Rhino
We have been working with a special private game reserve, which is significant because arguably the world’s most iconic white rhino lives there. Samson, pictured at the top of this newsletter, is 40 years old and an entity. He has endured two poaching attempts.
We believe Samson deserves to live out the rest of his life in safety along with the rest of the rhino residents. Baby Rhino Rescue has already funded installation of a license plate recognition system in this vicinity, and we are looking at a game-changing security system within the game reserve. But we are also thinking outside the box.
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Here’s How Our Thinking Goes | |
Poachers consult with sangomas, or traditional healers, before they leave to poach. The sangoma’s methods differ, depending on where they are in South Africa.
In some instances, we have been told that the poacher leaves their clothes with the sangoma, and the sangoma “washes” them. This means the clothes are treated with herbs and “medicines.” When the poacher dons those clothes, they believe themselves to be invisible.
A hyaena’s tail is used in a ritual with the poacher, which is believed to bring luck and eliminate obstacles.
When the poacher kills a rhino, they take the eyes and tail of the rhino and give these to the sangoma.
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Baby Rhino Rescue is working with a traditional healer now, but our goal is to PROTECT RHINOS using traditional medicines and applying them in areas where the poachers are active.
When news travels within local communities that a sangoma has been active, the poachers will almost certainly not want to enter that area.
We hope to update you with the specifics of how we are working with the traditional healer. This wonderfully clever system is at present being rolled out.
We are also about to install a game changing security system in this same area, which we will update you on in our next newsletter.
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Private rhino owners continue their heroic action saving rhinos.
With no governmental support, or charitable donations, these heroes are running out of funds.
BRR supports private rhino owners with our partner on the ground, Rhino Connect.
Rhinos continue to be injured in poaching attacks. Providing funding for wounded rhinos is an essential initiative for BRR.
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For example, 30-year-old Billy has spent the last 28 months recovering from a bullet wound.
He was finally ready to go back into the wild, except at 3 tons he was half a ton too heavy for the special double axel reinforced rhino trailer!
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Moving him required a crane!
This made moving costs astronomical.
We stepped up to make this possible! Billy is now home and ranging free — thanks to your donations!
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The red circle indicates where the bump on Kieries shoulder is. It is quite prominent and continues to cause her pain and discomfort but the vet who visited her last week is not unhappy with her progress. | |
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12 rhinos needed to be relocated
Because a private rhino owner ran out of money, he asked that his 12 rhinos be taken off his hands. This story is sadly not unusual. BRR stepped in and provided the funding to have the 12 rhinos transported to a sanctuary for safe keeping.
When the rhinos were off loaded, the rhino owner wept. But they are safe, and we thank donors for that.
Little Kierie’s one of these rhinos.
While still a rhino calf, Kieries fractured her shoulder. The bone grew into a knob and Kierie now suffers from rheumatism.
During the winter months she suffers with extreme pain. BRR is funding her drug management and ongoing veterinary costs.
We hope to make her life more comfortable. We are happy to report that the vet is pleased with developments.
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Esther, a young female rhino arrived very compromised. She was apparently bullied by others in her adopted crash. This weakened her immune system.
She arrived wounded and underweight with pus and blood in her nasal cavities. Esther was diagnosed with herpes virus. BRR funded her supplemental feed, as well as a special camp so she can be monitored.
We have funded continuing veterinary treatment for her, which included liquid drips, plasma transfusions, dextrose drips, vitamin infusions and more! It’s taken time, her condition worsened in the cold winter months, but she is back on track now and we expect a full recovery.
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Milk and supplemental feeding program | |
Finally, we want to feed the rhinos we love!
We funded a month of food, both milk and supplemental hay and lucern, for all the rhinos at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary.
Our relationship with the sanctuary goes back to 2014, and we remain committed to their rhinos.
We funded one ton of high-quality feed which also will be distributed to private properties, some caring for black rhinos.
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With help from the Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation we also funded all the milk for a young rhino named Caleb.
To Caleb and the 70 rhinos at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, to the rhinos eating the high quality feed, and you black beauties, we hope you guys are full of milk and hay and lucern and are happy!
And to Esther, Martha, Billy, Kieries, Junior, Billy and the unnamed bull — recover well and get strong.
We love you and are committed to each and every one of you.
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A very big thank you to all our donors.
You are with us on this journey to save rhinos.
We are giving everything we can.
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Contact@babyrhinorescue.org | | | | |
