Welp, this is devastating: A South African animal rescue center is caring for a baby rhinoceros whose mother was slaughtered for her horn. The poor little guy was discovered next to her body, “crying inconsolably.”
According to the Independent, Gertjie was discovered in May by employees of the the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, after his mother was killed for her horn. “It was a devastating sight, as the tiny animal would not leave her side, and was crying inconsolably for her,” according to HESC. He didn’t want to leave and, when he was first rescued, couldn’t sleep alone. He’ll have to stay at the center until he can be weaned, approximately a year from now.
Poaching is terrible.
The good news is, Gertjie is now doing much better now that he’s safe. He’s got a sheep for a surrogate mother. He goes on walks, to keep up his strength:
He gets awesome mud baths: He’s improved so much he can go jogging with students from HESC: And now he’s harassing the local ostriches. GERTJIE, BEHAVE. You scamp.Join the discussion...