JUNE 16th

Private rhino owners are facing a perfect storm of unsustainable costs, and the number of rhinos being given up because owners can’t afford to protect them continues to increase. is one of these rhinos. At nine years old she has had to be moved to a sanctuary where she will probably live out her days because her owner can neither afford to protect her nor pay her medical bills. Baby Rhino Rescue was able to pay for her relocation and thanks to our wonderful donors is now settling into her new home where we hope she will make new friends and be safe.

Don’t let anyone tell you that rhinos don’t feel pain. is a living example of how a rhino experiences pain. Sometime after she was born her left front shoulder fractured and over time the bone has grown into a knob which is the reason she limps and suffers from rheumatism. The cold winter months are no different for her than for humans with rheumatism, except hers is a rhino sized pain and drug management is much more complex. BRR is helping with ongoing veterinary costs thanks to your generous donations.

JUNE 20th

settling in to her new home:

The red circle indicated in the photo below is where the bump on shoulder is. It is quite prominent and continues to cause her pain and discomfort but the vet who visited her last week is not unhappy with her progress.

AUGUST 20th

update. Here she is showing very clearly how she tries to avoid putting weight on that left front leg. This winter has been unusually cold and she has even changed her feeding times to avoid moving in the morning and late afternoon cold. Those are the normal times rhinos eat but has taken to moving around and eating at lunchtime which is the warmest time of the day.

While she is still adjusting to her new home at the sanctuary, she has her long term friend Mika with her. She doesn’t move around much and certainly has come nowhere near to investigating the rhinos living in adjacent camps to hers. Hopefully with spring around the corner she will feel better and up to exploring her world. She continues to remind us how individual and unique each rhino is and how important their friendships are to them.

THIS IS INTERESTING

’ name is a direct reference to the bony knob on her left shoulder that causes her so much discomfort. “” comes from the word “knobkierie” which is an African defensive weapon made out of wood with a knob at one end. So important is this traditional weapon in South Africa that it is featured on the national coat of arms together with a spear.

In a way it’s an appropriate name for a little warrior rhino fighting her own daily physical battles.