HOEDSPRUIT – The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) continues to care for seven white rhinos, four females called Esme, Lali, Angie, and Eve, and three males, named Bula, Thaba, and Peter.

According to Linri Janse van Rensburg, HESC’s head curator, each has a distinct personality, making daily care both a challenge and a joy.

“Working with rhinos is never easy, but once you understand their personalities, it becomes very rewarding.”

Personalities that shine

E S M E

Esme, described as loving, gentle, and attention-seeking, is one of the more affectionate rhinos.

T H A B A

Thaba, on the other hand, is more reserved and prefers solitude. “He’s relaxed around men and has slowly become more comfortable with people, especially during feeding, but we still take a hands-off approach with him,” said Janse van Rensburg.

L A L I

Lali, also called Mango, was raised without human contact after refusing bottle feeding. “She’s quite grumpy and not used to people, but she’s fiercely attached to Esme and Thaba. If anyone comes near them, she gets protective and feisty, which is exactly what we want,” she explained.

B U L A

Bula enjoys asserting dominance, often challenging Thaba and Peter. “He usually comes second to Thaba but still bosses Peter around. He tends to wander on his own but never strays too far,” she added.

P E T E R

Peter, the youngest of the males, is the gentlest soul. “He’s not very demanding but always needs someone nearby. If he feels alone, he panics,” she said fondly.

A N G I E

Angie arrived feisty but has since mellowed. “She could be the next Esme, kind-hearted and nurturing,” Janse van Rensburg noted. Eve, too, was initially feisty but bonded quickly with Angie, calming down over time.

Group dynamics and protective instincts

Winter feeding poses its challenges.

“We feed them apart to avoid clashes. Once, while I was bottle-feeding Angie and Eve, Lali came too close and startled Eve. When Lali tried to charge her, Esme immediately stepped in and diffused the situation,” she recalled with a laugh. “It’s amazing to see Esme’s protective instincts.”

A future in the wild

When asked if HESC would consider keeping the rhinos permanently for their protection, Janse van Rensburg responded thoughtfully.

“As much as we’d love to keep them safe here, they belong in the wild. Keeping them would serve us, not them. They need to interact less with humans and more with other rhinos. Esme might take longer to release because she’s so used to people, but we hope that day will come.”