Update: Timbi and Care for Wild

[Richprins]

Care for Wild mourns death of rhino calf

Linzetta Calitz

“Lomshi has always been a compromised and vulnerable calf. During the bitter cold of the recent weeks, he took a downward turn and despite the very best efforts of our vets and team, Lomshi sadly passed away with his caregivers close by,” the sanctuary said.

Rhino calf Lomshiyo, or Lomshi for short, died at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary (CFW) on Monday morning. The sanctuary shared the heartbreaking news on its social media pages.

“While our hearts are heavy we know that we never gave up on this precious soul. May he rest in peace, forever free, the gentle boy we loved so much.”

Lomshi arrived at CFW in September last year with, among others, a spinal injury. At the time, the team estimated him to be about 14 months of age.

He was first spotted alone at Renosterpan in the Kruger National Park after his mother was poached.



Lomshi gets treated right after his rescue.

On the CFW website, Lomshiyo is defined as meaning “neglected one”, but the sanctuary has established a relationship with the Lomshiyo community and said this has now generated hope as well as a sustainable future for rhinos and people.


Lomshi’s journey at CFW was one riddled with moments of joy and struggle with the passion and dedication of the team committed to his survival clearly portrayed throughout.

The other orphans at the sanctuary especially played a vital role in his time there.

“The degree of devastation, loss, fear, pain and sorrow in Lomshi’s story is equally as great as its degree of bravery, determination, inspiration, empathy and hope.

“Lomshi’s story gave us another new insight into the emotional connection between rhinos and the role that other orphans play in their recovery,” the sanctuary said.

https://lowvelder.co.za/742667/care-for ... hino-calf/

[Lisbeth]

The rhinos look so robust, but obviously they are not, at least at a young age and not perfectly sane.

[Richprins]

Recently rescued rhino calf sadly passes away
Despite the Care for Wild team's around-the-clock work, a white rhino calf, thought to have been orphaned through a poaching incident, has passed away.
1 day ago
Chelsea Pieterse

After a day at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, sadly, the orphaned rhino calf that was rescued on Sunday, has passed away.

The calf is thought to have been orphaned through a recent poaching incident.

Petronel Nieuwoudt, the founder of Care for Wild, had told Lowvelder on Sunday that the calf had had a deep wound to its neck and a severely injured shoulder. It had also been treated for shock, pain, dehydration and hypothermia.



Following the post-mortem, Nieuwoudt said there were definitely impact wounds on the little rhino’s side.

When asked how the team members were doing today, Nieuwoudt said they are merely here to help these rhinos.

“We are fine. We fight, and this is what we do. You know, unfortunately that one must lie on the shoulders of the poacher; we will keep fighting for the rest.

“Remember, God is with you in the storms and in the calm, so Care for Wild will keep on fighting the good fight.”

https://lowvelder.co.za/748383/recently ... oQmp6vLVlA

[Mel]

Pretty professional way of handling things. But I'm sure the loss of any calf still leaves marks with the staff

[Lisbeth]

Maybe in the long run they learn to take a certain distance emotionally, also depending on how many there are and how much time you spend with the single animals

[Mel]

They'll have to. Just like nurses and other caring staff, I guess.

[Richprins]

Rhino conservation history made as first calf is born at Care for Wild
“This baby is a symbol of the life and light that is possible. She is hope for the species and for humanity,” said Care for Wild’s founder, Petronel Nieuwoudt, following the birth of the calf.
February 14, 2022
Lowvelder




> Photo: Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary

Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary (CFW) announced the birth of a rhino calf on Sunday – the world’s first-ever one to be born from parents who were both orphaned due to poaching, conceived and delivered naturally.

The sanctuary said rhino conservation history has been made with the arrival of a healthy female southern white rhino calf born to orphans Wyntir and Storm.

“The eight-year-old orphan, Wyntir, gave birth to a healthy baby girl at 02:25 on Sunday February 13,” said the sanctuary.

“It was a monumental and emotional moment for Care for Wild’s founder and CEO, Petronel Nieuwoudt, and the Care for Wild team who run the world’s largest orphaned rhino sanctuary and specialise in the rescue, rehabilitation, release, and ongoing protection of this iconic and endangered species.”


Wyntir was just two months old and weighed 107 kilograms when she was rescued from Kingfisherspruit in the Kruger National Park after poachers had murdered her mother.


“Alone and defenceless, Wyntir was attacked by hyenas, who ripped off her ears and caused severe wounds. Wyntir’s name is a pure reflection of the hardship she endured and her struggle for survival.”

Storm was orphaned in the Limpopo area just over 10 years ago, in an equally devastating attack, when poachers brutally murdered his entire family and left the four-week-old calf to die.

Both Wyntir and Storm were rescued and brought to Care for Wild. They are two calves out of over 100 rhino orphans that have been rescued since the conservation project began in 2011.

According to CFW, “The rhino species is estimated be less than 10 years away from extinction and South Africa is at the centre of the rhino poaching war.


“The Kruger National Park has seen a decline in white rhino populations of 75% since 2011. In 2014, SANParks joined forces with Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary and created a memorandum of understanding to safeguard this heritage and the future of the species by rescuing and protecting the orphans left behind.”


Wyntir and Storm underwent extensive care and rehabilitation before entering the rewilding and release programme at the sanctuary. All rhinos who are released back into a natural ecosystem continue to be protected 24/7 by guards, as well as an elite K9 and mounted unit.

“Wyntir and Storm have become the rhinos they were always supposed to be, and have just secured the future of their species.”

Nieuwoudt said, “I look at both Wyntir and Storm and all in one moment I see their whole journey. Every second of struggle, every hour of effort, every sacrifice and every person who gave everything to save them.



“Care for Wild’s vision is to secure the future of the species through viable black and white rhino breeding populations protected by communities.

“This baby is a symbol of the life and light that is possible. She is hope for the species and for humanity. Rhinos belong to the world and it is all of our responsibility to save them,” said the founder.

According to the sanctuary, this is just the beginning, as more orphaned rhinos are expected to give birth soon.

https://lowvelder.co.za/769604/rhino-co ... GgJqAHDKMI

[Lisbeth]

It sure is good news, but not that extraordinary IMO I don't think that rhinos have a long time memory of their early life and why is it hope for humanity? At the Rhino farms it is happening all the time.

I would rather see them introducing the rhinos into the wild.

[Richprins]

They want to reintroduce them, and do, but obviously most areas are a waste of time, including Kruger...

[Lisbeth]

For the time being it is too much of a risk