03/07/2026
In a tragic turn of events, unfortunately we have some heartbreaking news to share:
You may have wondered why we have been so quiet since the discovery of the abandoned rhino calf. Sadly the baby didn’t make it despite tireless efforts to get her through the critical first month of life. This is a deeply disappointing outcome for everyone involved, particularly the dedicated teams who worked endlessly to give her every possible chance of survival.
The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to the veterinary and rehabilitation team from Shamwari, together with Sibuya's ecology and anti-poaching teams, whose expertise, commitment, and countless hours of care reflect the very best of wildlife conservation.
The rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned Rhino calves is an exceptionally complex field. Many calves suffer from severe trauma, stress, or underlying physiological complications before they are found, and despite intensive veterinary intervention and around-the-clock care, sadly, not every rescue has the outcome we all hope for.
While the loss of this baby is heartbreaking, every case contributes to a greater understanding of Rhino rehabilitation. The veterinary findings and operational review from this rescue will help refine treatment protocols, strengthen response strategies, and improve our collective knowledge, ensuring we are even better prepared to care for orphaned Rhinos in the future.
We would like to thank everyone for their support, comments, and questions so far, and since we understand everyone will have even more now, we will be putting out a series of videos to answer all the queries we have received over the next couple of weeks.
Thank you again, from all of us.
