Rietvlei nature reserve welcomes new rhino calf
"Its gender cannot yet be determined as conservation officials will not disturb both mother and calf, giving them time to bond."
The Tshwane metro said it was delighted to announce that a rhino calf was recently born in Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
The calf was first spotted with its mother, India, on Sunday, according to environmental and agriculture management MMC Dana Wannenburg.
It was estimated that it is about four days old.
“Its gender cannot yet be determined as conservation officials will not disturb both mother and calf, giving them sufficient time to bond.
“The calf will only be named once its gender has been determined,” he said.
The new-born rhino will be named according to the Nato phonetic alphabet.
India was relocated to Rietvlei from the Hluhluwe Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal in 2011, and her first calf was born in Rietvlei in 2014.
This week’s newborn will be the fourth calf she has added to the nature reserve’s rhino population.
Almost a year ago, Rhino Pippa gave birth to baby girl Zola.
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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, belonging to the Tshwane metro, came into existence due to a water scheme to supply drinking water for the city of Pretoria.
It is, therefore, a fairly large nature reserve in an urban setting and covers about 4 000 hectares.
It has been a conservation area since 1929.
The reserve is one of the largest urban nature reserves in South Africa and has an abundance of wildlife right on the doorstep of the city.
“The reserve also boasts buffaloes, rhinos and cheetahs; now we are working towards re-establishing our lion population.
“We are upgrading security at the lion enclosure before we re-introduce lions to the reserve.
“We will provide more details as the project progresses,” added Wannenburg.
Njozi, a sub-adult-female cheetah from the Western Cape started a new life in the reserve in August 2020.
She was joined by a sub-adult cheetah, Joe.
The Welgevonden male (Joe) was relocated to Mozambique in the beginning of the year.
Two Botswana males joined Njozi (the Swahili word for dream) in January 2021.
“The cheetah males are already in a holding area at the reserve, and would have been released a few weeks ago.
“Unfortunately one of the males contracted an illness and it was decided to delay their release until both are fit and well.
“We cannot make any pronouncement on new cheetah cubs as we have to let nature take its course,” he concluded.
Due to Covid-19 visitor numbers to the reserve are limited.
The public is therefore encouraged to book their visits in advance at the following email address: rietvlein@tshwane.gov.za
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