It’s always a wonderful feeling when we are able to make a significant difference in the lives of animals that have been affected by unfortunate circumstances.
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Shamwari’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is one of its kind in Southern Africa where Shamwari’s passion for conservation of nature and wildlife is evident. The centre helps to rehabilitate and care for sick, injured, abandoned or orphaned animals under the care of our professional veterinary team with their eventual release back into the wild being paramount.
The rhino population has suffered a devastating plight due to poaching. Statistics state that an average of two rhino are killed every day leading to young being left orphaned.
Due to these harrowing statistics our team has, in recent times, specialised in raising orphaned rhinos. Despite the horrific ordeals these young animals have endured, we have successfully raised and released several into safe environments where they are now helping to grow rhino populations for the future.
Rhino at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
In 2018 the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre received three orphaned rhinos in its care. Faith, the youngest rhino calf, arrived in April 2018 due to her mother being killed by an aggressive male rhino. She was only three months old. She initially had a friend, Jerimiah the sheep, and was placed in an enclosure next to two orphaned but older rhino. Faith always showed curiosity towards them so, when she was old enough, we let her join the others and she was absolutely thrilled!
The other two white rhino came to us from another wildlife reserve that had experienced major rhino poaching threats. Both were left orphaned by poachers. They are still young, at three and five years old and came to our centre to ensure their safety.
The Release
Since the three females have been together, they have bonded wonderfully. Thus, it was decided to release them together onto the reserve. Their release was wonderful to witness. They were eager to get out of their travel crates and into their natural habitat on the reserve. To our surprise, a large wild rhino bull heard the commotion and came to investigate. He approached the three females with caution and it almost seemed as if he was welcoming them to their new home. After observing their new surroundings, they all trotted off together.
