THE FUSE

After a terrifying encounter with hyenas and a life-saving flight to Care for Wild, this resilient calf is finally in the arms of safety, fighting his way back one heartbeat at a time.

Mpumalanga, South Africa (06 February 2026) – The start of the new month came with a coordinated rescue mission to give a small rhino calf a second chance.

Estimated to be only a few weeks old, according to the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, the calf was sighted by rangers in the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) within the Greater Kruger landscape.

The poor boy had sustained severe injuries and multiple wounds, potentially from hyenas.

“Badly wounded and having already lost significant condition, he would not have survived without urgent intervention,” Care for Wild said.

Veterinarian Dr Ben Muller, together with helicopter pilot Jana Meyer from Hope for Wildlife Helicopter Services and APNR park warden Hannes Zowitsky, flew the calf to safety.

On arrival at Care for Wild, Petronel and the team were waiting at the helipad, immediately transferring him to the wildlife clinic and Intensive Care Unit. There, Dr Chris Smith joined the veterinary team for a thorough assessment and to begin stabilisation and treatment.

The team began emergency stabilisation, placing the rhino on intravenous fluids to address dehydration and do a full triage, a critical process where every injury was assessed, prioritised, and treated.

“A detailed ear examination revealed serious wounds. Blood tests and X-rays were performed to give our veterinarians the clearest possible picture of his condition, allowing them to develop a precise treatment plan and carefully calculate medications suited to such a young calf.”

He is still receiving 24/7 care, and his rescuers are happy to share that he is taking all the steps in the right direction. His blindfold and earplugs have been removed, and he has already learnt to trust his care team, who are working around the clock to make sure he receives everything he needs.

“He really loves his milk and is fed every three hours, day and night. He is still sleeping a lot, which is completely normal for a calf with this level of injury. Sleep and rest are an important part of the healing process,” Care for Wild assures.

This young fighter is getting stronger by the day. We applaud the incredible team- rangers, pilots, rescuers, vets, carers, and volunteers – who dedicated themselves to his inspiring journey. You are true heroes and deserve every bit of credit!

Sources: Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary

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