Keep up with how our orphans are progressing, and how they adjust to being back in their natural environment
2021
Temba and Mabrok were among the 15 black rhinos the Lowveld Rhino Trust moved from Bubye Valley Conservancy to Gonarezhou National Park last year to start a new breeding population there.
2020
Temba and Mabrock have been back out in the wild for over a year and a half now and doing well. These two have remained inseparable friends and are always seen together. Occasionally they let Inopa join the party.
Temba & Mabrok
Both these boys are now five years old and starting to behave more like bulls and so are spending less time in each-others company and rather finding young females to spend their time with.
Inopa was released the same time as Temba and Mabrock but has proven to be much more of a loner. You can read his full story by clicking here.
In June 2021 Inopa was also among the fifteen black rhinos moved to Gonarezhou to start a new population. Having been in pens when he was initially orphaned he adapted quickly back to being held in bomas during the initial settling in period in Gonarezhou. On release he has continued his independent ways and found himself a nice quiet new home range.
Inopa
Millie was released way back in 2009. She was recently seen sleeping soundly with her third born calf.
Millie was orphaned way back in in 2008 when her mother was killed by poachers who used cyanide to poison a water hole. Fear at the time was that Millie had suffered some cyanide poisoning herself as she struggled terribly initially, refusing to even drink. In despair as to what to do for this little four month old calf we sat down defeated in the corner of her pen to discus what else we could try. Within minutes she calmly crawled into our laps and pressed up against our bodies and when offered the bottle – started to feed. She just wanted to be held!
Millie proved to be one of the most tactile and social rhinos raised in Bubye Valley Conservancy. She was raised with three other orphans and remains to this day close neighbours to Sassie the other female in “The Gang” as they became known.
Millie also tends to keep close, ongoing relations with her calves too. The photo on the right is of Millie followed by three of her calves. Last month spoor of a very small calf was seen in her area so we believe she has recently had another calf. We will wait till the calf is closer to six months old before we confirm the mother’s identity so as to minimize the risk of causing the mother and calf to separate, leaving the calf vulnerable to predation.
Millie
Ollie was also released back in 2009. Always a very outgoing character he can be counted on for good photo opportunities be it a camera or a camera trap. Here Ollie is just checking for a response to his mock charge.
