Facebook-post on orphaned rhino shared more than 9 000 times

SKUKUZA – A heart-rending Facebook entry by a field guide who came across an orphaned rhino calf which had most likely lost its mother to poaching, is spreading on the site like wildfire.

It is clear from Liam Burrough’s Facebook page that he is a passionate animal lover. He is a qualified field guide working in Olifants West in Greater Kruger. He made the tragic discovery on Thursday in the Tshokwane area of the Kruger National Park (KNP).

He posted two photos of the calf on Facebook with a very emotional plea for everyone to take a stance against the poaching pandemic that is threatening the future of our rhino. It has been shared an astonishing 9 782 times. Here is Liam’s story, “This evening I have something to get off my chest, so if you’re not in the mood for a rant then skip this, but I really hope you don’t. 

“Driving just South of Tshokwane in Kruger today we stumbled across an eight-week-old white rhino calf standing all alone in the road. Badly dehydrated, covered in wounds and clearly in desperate search of shade, the calf approached my car. She called out into emptiness, looked on for a moment and then rested her chin on my door. 

“Slumping onto her hindquarters and then onto her belly she caught a few moments of peaceful rest in our shadow. She had undoubtedly lost her mother at this tender age to a poacher in this, one of the hardest hit poaching areas in Kruger. 

“We sent another car to get help from a rangers station while we sat, giving the calf cooling showers with bottled water and more 
than anything, comfort and reassurance… remaining there until rangers had arrived and a helicopter was on the way. 

“The tragic irony in all of this is that the calf had approached the very creatures who are responsible for her being orphaned, in search of comfort. This said, it is our responsibility as humans to protect these animals. The bastards fuelling this ridiculous trade have to be stopped. As a continent we need to let these lower forms of human life know that we will not stand for the senseless slaughter of our wildlife. I do hope you will like and share this status but merely spreading awareness is not enough. 

“Change begins with you, so get off of your ass and do something! Write angry letters, donate as much money as you can to fund guns, dogs, equipment and salaries for the hands we so badly need to stop these gentle giants from disappearing. 

“I won’t be participating in the ice-bucket challenge but I will be donating a percentage of my salary every month to a rhino charity in the area, starting now. Extinction is forever and it’s coming for Africa’s rhino, but together we can stop it.”

None of SANParks spokesmen had responded to enquiries about the calf at the time of going to press.