If we did not already have a soft spot for these wonderful creatures and our need to protect them, this little guy turned us into marshmallow. We’d come to the Karoo’s Aquila Private Game Reserve to mark the 6th year of World Rhino Day, begun by the World Wildlife Fund of South Africa. Today it encompasses all five species of African and Asian rhino and head ranger Timothy Van der Westhuizen oversees a healthy herd of them right here. It was on New Year’s Eve almost ten months ago that a white rhino calf was found alone on the reserve. Confusing another calf for her own, the mother abandoned her baby. Conservation Manager Divan Grobler and his team tried reintroducing the calf to his mother but she only rejected him again. It became clear he’d have to be hand-reared. Divan initially thought stress might get the better of his young charge but his warrior’s spirit shone through and proved he’s a survivor. Each day, he drinks up to a fifth of his own body weight in a formula resembling his mother’s own milk. While he gathered his strength, an sms competition saw him named “Osita” an Igbo word meaning “from today onwards it will be better”. Osita is vital in the conservation effort as he can supply a strong bloodline and genetics for the white rhino’s future. If you would like to assist this little fighter in the year and half it will take to build up his strength, visit www.animalrescuecentre.co.za.
[ Ссылка ]
