The thought of AK47 bullets ripping through the body of a mature female rhino in order to hack off its horn for sale on an Asian black market leaves all civilised people traumatized. Poachers often use axes and high-powered rifles to hack off the horn, leaving survivors with horrific, life-threatening wounds to their faces. The gaping facial wounds are prone to infection and require multiple painful treatments and surgeries to heal. Many rhinos do not survive these injuries.

This criminal brutality is an everyday occurrence in South Africa, but these callous acts also condemns orphaned rhinos to a lifetime of trauma.

It is hard to conceive of such magnificent creatures suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but this is exactly what orphaned rhinos experience after witnessing their mother’s killing.

This trauma manifests as physical weakness, social withdrawal, and a lack of desire to eat or drink, affecting their ability to survive even after rescue. 

Orphaned rhino calves have shown clear signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can cause them to become reclusive, withdraw from others, lose their appetite, and show a general lack of will to live. Survivors often exhibit skittish or fearful behaviour toward humans, and they may be too weak or traumatised to recover fully.

A traumatic experience, such as witnessing the killing of their mother, can impact a young rhino’s developing brain, potentially affecting their stress regulation, social communication, and empathy for the rest of their lives. 

Young rhinos suffer from the abrupt loss of their mothers, a critical social bond that is essential for their development. 

Some orphaned rhinos become withdrawn and hide in thick bush, only coming out to drink. The stress can cause a loss of appetite or a desire to eat or drink. Long-term trauma and stress can lead to significant physical weakness. 

Rebuilding trust with a traumatised rhino can be a slow and unique process for each individual animal. The severity of the injuries often requires a specialized, multi-disciplinary approach involving veterinarians and care specialists. The act of caring for traumatised animals can also be emotionally taxing for the humans involved, requiring resilience and dedication. 

Care for Wild, supported by the Spirit Foundation.

Care for Wild, a globally recognised conservation organisation dedicated to preserving endangered species and safeguarding the precious biodiversity of our planet. As the largest orphaned rhino sanctuary in the world, Care for Wild specialises in the rescue, rehabilitation, rewilding, and protection of orphaned and injured rhinos. However, its mission extends far beyond rhinos alone. The sanctuary is deeply committed to the preservation of endangered species that play vital roles in their ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity.

Care for Wild believes that successful conservation goes hand in hand with the involvement of local communities. People are at the core of its mission, empowering and engaging rural communities as essential partners in preserving biodiversity. By fostering a sense of ownership and stewardship towards the environment, strong alliances are forged to achieve sustainable conservation practices that benefit both people and wildlife—an interconnected living landscape.

As we embark together on this mission, the urgency and severity of the biodiversity crisis have never been clearer.

If you would like to know more about Care for Wild (https://careforwild.co.za/) or support the work of the Spirit Wildlife Foundation (https://spiritf.org/), please visit our websites as we would love to hear from you and help create a sustainable future for our planet – there is no Plan B for the Earth.