NEW THREE-MONTH OLD RHINO ORPHAN RESCUE APPEAL
Recently a male rhino calf was rescued by Helping Rhinos project partner, Zululand Conservation Trust and taken to the Zululand Rhino Orphanage (ZRO) from a nearby Reserve. The calf, thought to be around three months old is settling in well at the orphanage thanks to the dedicated, round the clock care at the ZRO. The owners of the Reserve have named him Tweed in honour of their much-loved dog who recently passed.
Tweed was found by the Reserve patrol team, hiding under a bush close to his mother’s body. It is thought she was wounded in a poaching attack and unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. The team at ZRO were notified and a capture team dispensed to fetch the calf.
Staff at the ZRO prepared the Intensive Care Unit container ready for his arrival. At times like this, every detail is important and speed is of the essence.
On locating the calf, the expert vet sedated him and inserted a hydration drip. The calf was blindfolded and earplugged before being carefully airlifted to safety by helicopter pilot, with the vet monitoring Tweed closely.
Once Tweed was settled into the ICU container and had woken up from his sedation, he was offered a small milk bottle which he finished. A promising sign.
This first feed was easy as he was probably extremely hungry but as the drugs worked out of his system, he became more agitated and feeding him was a challenge. It took a lot of patience and gentleness from the ZRO staff to coax him to take his milk feeds over the coming days.
He was seen by the orphanage’s regular vet, Trever, who gave the little calf a full examination as well as the all-important antibiotics and vitamin boost that was needed to help the calf survive his ordeal. Tweed has been through an incredibly traumatic ordeal.
HELP THIS RESCUED RHINO ORPHAN
Tweed is going to need a lot of support and help over the coming weeks. He needs a milk feed every two hours to keep him well fed and hydrated, twenty-four-hour round-the-clock care to comfort him just as a mother would, and he needs professional veterinary support to ensure his growth and wellness is constant.
Every rhino really does count and only with your support can we get Tweed through his early traumatic months. Please give what you can to help this still vulnerable little orphan.
It costs approximately £1,500 per month to nurse a rhino orphan through his first precarious years but, with one rhino still being poached every day, every rhino we can rescue and nurture to adulthood will make a difference to the survival of the species - Tweed is no exception. Most orphans are cared for and protected for up to three years before they can be released back into the wild.
The most recent orphan to be rescued and cared for by the ZRO staff was ‘Little Guy’ Leko in 2021 who now, thanks to the generosity of Helping Rhinos supporters, is on his way to becoming ‘Big Guy’ Leko and the strong rhino he deserves to be.
THANK YOU in advance for your generous donations and rest assured, we will keep you up to date with Tweed’s progress and growth.
£10
could help pay for
one days milk for
Tweed
£20
could help pay for
Tweed's round the
clock care
£50
could help pay for
Tweed's critical veterinary and medication costs
Choose your own amount
All donations will to help cover the costs of caring for Tweed and the running of the Zululand Rhino Orphanage. A small percentage will help to cover administrative costs.
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