Friendship goes beyond the limits – an orphaned Rhino and zebra make unexpected best pals.
Rangers discovered an orphaned young rhino battling for survival in South Africa’s Kruger National Park in early December 2021, with its umbilical cord tied. When it was found, the rhino calf was severely weak and unable to move. It was thought to be less than a day old. She was flown to the Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary in South Africa by helicopter, where she was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Just a few weeks ago, a zebra calf was discovered immobile and hardly breathing in Kruger National Park. The newborn zebra, named Modjadji, was estimated to be just a week old when he was brought to the sanctuary’s ICU for treatment of septicemia and anaemia. These two lovely newborns would almost certainly never have met in the wild. With no time left, the newborn rhino and zebra calf at the Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary become unexpected friends helping each other heal and become stronger.
When rangers discovered her during a regular operation, Daisy’s mom was nowhere to be located. Daisy’s mother may have been a victim of poachers, while the specific cause of her desertion is unknown. The newborn rhino was discovered amid a “distressing week” in South Africa when scores of rhinos were mercilessly slain by poachers in a couple of days. Poachers generally just take the moms’ horns, prized in Asian nations like China, and leave the calves to survive.
Fortunately, both these orphaned babies survived after receiving excellent care and nourishment. Daisy needed different therapies to assist her immune system and regulate her body temperature because she was too young to get milk from her mother when she was discovered.
Modjadji became quick buddies with Daisy. The caring zebra took it upon itself to be the young rhino’s buddy and guardian. Modjadji and Daisy are more like siblings after a month together. Modjadji isn’t far behind Daisy, wherever she is.
As they became more prominent and bolder, their interest took the better of them, and their levels of communication with each other grew, Louwhen Bowker, Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary’s media liaison, explained.
Rhinos like to live close to someone. Daisy enjoys Modjadji’s companionship and finds him to be quite loving. Daisy feels safe and secure when they lie together at night. She is a companion who can be with her every time. This helps Daisy avoid too much human contact.
Modjadji is a beautiful companion for Daisy and treats her with great affection. Daisy feels safe and secure when they lie together during the night.
These two newborns created an unbreakable connection over the following several weeks and months, finding comfort in one other and assisting them in their healing process. Daisy is too fragile and delicate to be exposed to the sanctuary’s other orphaned rhinos, so Modjadji’s soft and kind company is essential.
Rachael Pfeiffer of the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary noted that It will take some time until she is strong enough to manage the other orphans. Aqua, whom she met in the ICU, is the nearest in age to her, but he simply preferred to play and was a little too noisy for her. Modjadji’s importance is much felt at this point.
On its social media accounts, the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary has been chronicling the journey of these two odd animal companions.
On January 28th, the sanctuary stated, Nothing can get past these two pals. Modjadji finally showed Daisy where the milk was prepared during their fun outside the ICU! These two pals are growing increasingly naughty.
The shelter noted on March 30th that the attachment between these two is exceptionally remarkable. Modjadji is Daisy’s go-to person for support and companionship. Modjadji is incredibly kind and cautious of her pal.
Also, the sanctuary noted on their Instagram account; The babies, like other newborns, enjoy their milk so much. They’re a little over three months old and are fed every two to three hours day and night. Daisy drinks slightly under a litre of water at each feeding! While Daisy is the more boisterous consumer, Modjadji is more gentle and calm.
After Daisy, Modjadji, and the other orphan rhinos have healed and developed, the Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary hopes to release them back into the wild. This is part of the sanctuary’s mission to promote “community engagement and the incorporation of sustainable solutions for the protection of healthy Black and White rhino population structure in conservation areas.”
The remarkable friendship and connection these two rescued babies created during their recovery journey will live forever.
The refuge has a history of bringing unexpected animal companions together, such as when it helped develop a connection between a rescued newborn black rhino and a saved goat in the past.
