by A baby rhino that was found Oʀᴘʜᴀɴᴇᴅ at just 12 hours old, with the umbilical cord still attached, is recovering at a wildlife sanctuary and has befriended a zebra foal that ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴅɪᴇᴅ during heavy rains in South Africa at the start of December.
The rhino calf, who has been named Daisy, was admitted to the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary on December 9 after being found alone and sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟɪɴɢ during a routine operation in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
“Discovered and ʀᴇsᴄᴜᴇᴅ by the SANParks team during a routine operation in the Kruger, our latest arrival was just 12 hours old when she was admitted on Thursday afternoon. Unable to stand, her umbilical cord was still attached. She is incredibly weak and extremely ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ. This little calf is being fed hourly around the clock. At this stage, the team works in shifts to ensure there is always a caregiver by her side. We have an extremely long road ahead, but every rhino matters,” the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary posted to Facebook on Dec. 11, along with several photos of the calf.
Since taking in Daisy, Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary has been working around the clock to keep the baby animal stable and healthy. According to the sanctuary, Daisy was so young when she was found she had received no colostrum from her mother and her immune system was compromised. She sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇᴅ to maintain her body temperature and needed round the clock care and feeding every hour.
She was given a ᴘʟᴀsᴍᴀ transfer to help boost her immune system and, while still in the ICU, her health is starting to improve. Daisy cannot yet be introduced to other rhinos at the sanctuary because she is too weak and ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ.
At the end of November, a zebra foal was admitted to the Sanctuary’s ICU after being found”motionless and barely breathing, after heavy rains and storms.” The foal was thought to be just a week old and was treated for sᴇᴘᴛɪᴄᴀᴇᴍɪᴀ and ᴀɴᴇᴍɪᴀ.
The zebra, which has been named Modjajdi, has now befriended Daisy and is helping her recover in the ICU. Footage released by the sanctuary shows the pair together.”Modjadji is a young zebra foal who is also in the Intensive Care Unit,” Pfeiffer said.
“She was found alone after heavy storms and rains, about six weeks ago. Modjadji is amazing company for Daisy and very affectionate towards her. They cuddle together at night which gives Daisy comfort and security. She is a friend that can be with her 24/7 and this in turn helps to prevent too much human contact with Daisy.”
The Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary is hopeful that Daisy’s ꜰɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ spirit and friendship with Modjadji will help see her through any difficult days ahead.
