The Littlest Rhino
It’s not enough to love animals; we must actively protect and preserve them. It’s our duty and responsibility as custodians of this planet. Daphne Sheldrick
“He’s coming. There’s a baby rhino. He’s coming.” The whispered announcement spread like wildfire along the line of people pressed against a rope barrier. I craned my neck towards the path that led from the forest. Nothing. Yet something happened. There was a shift in the air, a sense of anticipation. All chatter stopped. In the outdoor amphitheatre of Nairobi National Park, the opening procession of a unique event began. Raha, a tiny rhino barely two feet high entered the scene behind her keeper dressed in the green uniform of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Wrapped in a blue blanket little Raha solemnly followed her keeper.
From time to time, she reached up to suckle his trousers for comfort. The invisible line of attachment connecting the tiny orphan with her surrogate parent ensured that both man and rhino were perfectly in sync.
Raha is an endangered black rhino. No one knows what happened to her mother. Perhaps Raha was born premature. Perhaps hyenas drove her mother away. Whatever happened the newborn rhino was found alone and badly wounded. Hyenas had attacked her rear end biting off her tail and inflicting serious damage to her bum. This impacted Raha’s ability to digest and eliminate food. The David Sheldrick Trust rescued her and gave her a second chance in life.
Over the past year Raha has had a few surgeries and 24/7 care including bottle feeds every 3 hours. It’s been touch and go, but now she can eat and digest her food properly. She’s small for her age due to her trauma, however her keepers anticipate she will eventually grow to her full size. Rhinos are solitary creatures. Over time Raha will gradually depend less and less on her keepers for comfort and care.
The DSWT is located on the boundary of Nairobi National Park. Under the protection of her keepers little Raha leaves the safety of the sanctuary every day and browses freely in the park where other wild animals live. When she demonstrates she is ready to spend some solo time in the park the keepers will allow her to stay out alone. Raha will direct her timetable. Much like some kids leave home early and others take awhile, the keepers trust the orphans in their care will each feel the pull of the wild in their own time. Eventually Raha will spend all her time out in the park living freely amongst other wildlife. She may even meet a suitor one day and produce a calf of her own.
A white rhino in Nairobi National Park
You can follow Raha’s progress on the DSWT Instagram page or subscribe to their newsletters at https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org.
Take care of nature and nature will take care of you.