Care For WildRhino 911 Sponsors Successful Horn Trimming Operation at Care for Wild to Safeguard Rhinos
Care for Wild recently carried out a large-scale horn-trimming operation to enhance the protection and security of the rhinosunder our care. The operation was sponsored by Rhino 911, and involved darting and immobilising a significant number of rhinosfrom both the ground and air. A large team of registered veterinarians were supported by Care for Wild’s ground team,Wildlifevets.com, SANParks, and MTPA, as well as internationally renowned veterinarian Dr. Evan Antin.
Horn trimming, previously referred to as dehorning, is a tightly controlled and regulated process carried out by qualified and registered veterinarians, involving the safe removal of a portion of a rhino’s horn. Its purpose is to deter poaching attempts. Thehorns remain the property and responsibility of either SANParks or MTPA and are removed from Care for Wild premisesimmediately.
During this operation, the rhinos also received vaccinations, which were sponsored by Design Biologix, and vitamin supplements,which were ponsored by Kyron Laboratories, as extra support.
Thanks to the collaboration of these teams and a collective effort of dedicated professionals, the operation was a resounding success, bolstering the security and conservation efforts of these precious rhinos.
New Calf Named Zuri
Just over a month ago on March 27th, a new orphaned rhino calf arrived at Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary. The young female,estimated to be between 10-12 months old, had been found next to her deceased mother. Fortunately, she was discovered andrescued quickly and brought to Care for Wild.
Slowly, the young calf began taking important steps forward in her rehabilitation journey. Caregivers quickly introduced her tofellow orphans Jock, Mavic, and Aquazi. Integration with other rhino calves is an important element of helping new orphans tosettle and is integral to their emotional well-being as it sets a strong foundation for successful rewilding in the future.
Our newest arrival developed a special bond with older orphan Jock, and the pair have been spending time together away fromthe others to help the new calf settle in. It took some time for the caregivers to earn our newest orphans’ trust but by workingaround Jock, we have been successful in encouraging her to start eating lucerne. She has been named Zuri, which is of Swahiliorigin and means “beautiful”. We are so proud to see Zuri’s progress as she begins this long rehabilitation road to become therhino she was always supposed to be.
Ensuring the Health and Well-being of the Mounted Unit Horses
Care for Wild’s Mounted Unit plays a crucial role in the conservation efforts of rhinos. The horses of the Mounted Unit are on thefrontlines and need to be in top physical condition to carry out their duties effectively. That is why regular health checks are essentialfor identifying and preventing any underlying health issues.
Recently, Dr. Albertus Coetzee from West Acres Animal Hospital visited the Mounted Unit to address any concerns regarding thehealth of the horses. He spent time with the riders, discussing daily preventive health care measures, which are necessary for keepingthese horses happy and healthy.
The horses of Care for Wild’s Mounted Unit receive excellent routine care, which includes regular shoeing, vaccinations, and dentalchecks. Their balanced and nutritious diet, ample rest, and recovery time maintain their health and stamina. The care and attentiongiven to the horses reflect our commitment to animal welfare and the importance of their role in the success of our anti-poachingunit. We are proud to provide the Mounted Unit with exceptional care.
Boosting Antipoaching Efforts with Addition of New Drone
Care for Wild would like to sincerely thank
Matt Grossman
for the donation of this Mavic 3 Enterprise Drone that will enhance ourantipoaching strategy. Drones equipped with advanced technologies such as thermal imaging have become a crucial tool in anti-poaching efforts around the world. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the ability to cover large areas quickly and efficiently,providing real-time data and imagery that can aid in the detection and apprehension of poachers.
One of the key advantages of using drones is their ability to detect activity that is not visible to the human eye. Thermal cameras candetect body heat, allowing rangers to spot poachers hiding in dense foliage or in the cover of darkness as well as assisting inmonitoring rhinos and ensuring their safety.
The use of drones in anti-poaching efforts is a promising development in the fight to protect endangered species. As technologycontinues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more innovative uses for drones in the ongoing battle against wildlife crime.
Thank you for this invaluable addition to our technological armoury.
A Look at Care for Wild's Easter Celebrations
Care for Wild welcomed the Easter weekend with open arms and celebrated it in true community spirit. The sanctuary’s JuniorRangers were treated to an exciting day of sports and fun-filled activities on Good Friday. Over 80 children from local communitieswere given a chance to play soccer and netball and even encountered Storm, a 2-tonne rhino who came to investigate. The dayconcluded with egg decorating and a delicious lunch for all. By bringing together local children and raising awareness about theimportance of wildlife protection, we are inspiring future generations to take an active role in preserving our planet’s biodiversity.
On Easter Monday, Care for Wild continued our community outreach efforts by distributing food parcels and handmade blankets anddolls to struggling families with young children and elderly parents. During the winter months, temperatures drop to well belowfreezing in the surrounding communities, and essential clothing items are hard to find. Thanks to donations and handmade garmentsfrom volunteers all over the world, Care for Wild is able to make multiple distributions of blankets, hats, scarves, jerseys, and clothesto the women and children and elderly of our local community. From colorful, hand-knitted blankets and jerseys to donated winterwear, jackets, and socks, every item is always greatly appreciated.
Bulk Water Supply
Care for Wild has recently established an alternative water source to address the
challenges posed by our existing water supply, which is pumped from the Noordkaap
River. Over the years, we’ve encountered numerous difficulties, including the need to
filter and purify the water. By drilling a borehole, we can now pump clean, drinkable
water to a bulk water tank, which in turn supplies all the existing water storage tanks at
Care for Wild.
Thank you Chris Alexander
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Chris Alexander. The establishment of the borehole has been a game-changer for us, allowing us to have quality water readily available for both people and the ICU rhino orphans.
TLC For Roads!
The Road infrastructure at Care for Wild is upgraded annually ensuring that the vehicles which use the road network are not damaged by poor road surfaces. Having a well-maintained road network allows for security resources to be deployed quickly which is critical in the overall protection of our resident rhino population
New Bale Store Sponsorship Enhances Rhino Food Security
We are delighted to formally announce the successful completion of ournew bale store, which was made possible by the generous contributionsof the companies listed right. We extend our deepest appreciation fortheir support, as it has enabled us to provide a safe and secureenvironment for storing our dry feedstock, including teff and lucernebales.
The addition of this new facility has allowed us to order and store largerquantities of food, thereby reducing the risk of supply shortages,spoilage, and waste. This development will significantly enhance ourability to ensure food security for the rhinos throughout the wintermonths.
We are truly grateful for these companies’ meaningful impact on ourwork.
Thank You
CADCON (PTY) LTD
EDS CONSULTING ENGINEERS
GSE CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD
SEGMILLER ENGINEERING SERVICES
SANTANA LIFTING PROJECTS
PRO ROOF STEEL & TUBE
STEWARTS & LLOYDS
BSI STEEL
ALLIED STEELRODE
IMPALA BOLT & NUT (PTY) LTD
LOLO KEKANA ENTERPRISES
THANK YOU DERRICK TORRES
After launching a social media campaign last year toraise funds for drone technology, our supporterswholeheartedly responded to the call and begandonating and sharing our appeal widely.
One of our long-term supporters, Mark Couple
,introduced us to Derick Torres who generouslycontributed a second-hand Mavic 2 drone to supportour cause. Furthermore, Derick also donated a GoPro toassist us in our efforts!
Thanks to the support of Wings for Animals, theseincredible new tools were delivered to Care for Wildand are currently being utilized on a daily basis tocombat poaching.
THANK YOU BLANKETS FOR BABY RHINOS
Blankets for Baby Rhinos’ generous donation towardsequipment for our anti-poaching unit is greatlyappreciated, and Care for Wild would like to extend ourheartfelt gratitude.
The trap cams, backpacks, headlamps, and boots haveenabled additional support for the monitoring of rhinosand other wildlife in the Intensive Protection Zone.
Their support reinforces our commitment to preservingbiodiversity. Thank you, Blankets for Baby Rhinos, foryour continued contributions to our efforts in protectingwildlife and their habitats.
THANK YOU TO THE ROYALRHINO AFRICAN CREAMLIQUEUR
We are extremely grateful to The Royal Rhino AfricanCream Liqueur for their recent contribution of R70,000towards our conservation efforts at Care for Wild RhinoSanctuary.
Their generosity and support are instrumental in thesuccess of our mission to protect and conserve this keystone species.
#royalrhinocreams #royalrhino
Thank You
W I T H D E E P E S T G R A T I T U D E , T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S F O R T H E A M A Z I N G S U P P O R T O F
T H E I N D I V I D U A L R H I N O S , A N T I – P O A C H I N G , A N D C O M M U N I T Y D E V E L O P M E N T
