Orphaned Hluhluwe-iMfolozi rhino calf flown to safety
Rhino calf spotted by 'eye in the sky' game reserve chopper
TWO months short of the end of the year, and 2022’s rhino poaching numbers in KZN are double last year’s figures.
This is according to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s online rhino poaching statistics.
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While there are no details as to which game reserves are most at risk, unconfirmed reports state that Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) has suffered heavy losses to poachers this year.
On Sunday morning, a pilot, a vet and a section ranger at HiP took to the sky in search of buffalo for a disease testing operation the park is running, and while flying over the park, they were alerted to a fresh rhino carcass.
A small lone calf was spotted some 100m away.
The team immediately took action, with Dr Rowan Leeming immobilising the calf and loading it onto the back seat of the helicopter.
It is estimated to be six weeks old, and weighs 105kg.
Flown by Orton Bosman of Heligistix, the chopper rushed the calf to a rhino sanctuary in the region where it will receive the appropriate treatment and care.
When old enough to fend for itself, the calf will be released back
into the wild.
With support from Blankets for Baby Rhinos, African Wildlife Vets covered the emergency helicopter flight from HiP to the rhino orphanage.
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