Out in the wild moms usually have to defend their babies from predators. It is a well-known fact that you should NEVER get between a mama and her child. The mom simply won’t rest until her kid is safe. But what happens when it is the mother who is in danger?
When this rhinoceros became injured, vets immediately stepped in to help her. But her little baby didn’t have a clue what was going on. When he saw the humans he assumed they were a threat to his mom. What he did next is just too adorable.
The rhinos were living in KwaZulu-Natal, a coastal province in South Africa that is host to many wildlife and game preserves. As soon as the workers noticed that the adult rhino was injured they called for help. A team of veterinarians from Kifaru Wildlife Veterinary Services arrived at the scene.
Rhinos are a critically endangered species, and their numbers have dropped all over the world. Because of these extreme circumstances, vets take great care to treat these animals for any and all ailments, including minor infections. This mama rhino had an infected toe, so the vets came as quickly as possible.
The mom struggled through her pain as the humans approached her, but her little baby had no idea what was happening. As soon as he saw the strange men approach his mom, he completely freaked out. He couldn’t let anyone harm his mother!
The baby rhino began to charge at the men, using his full body weight to push them out of the way. 80 pounds of mass threatened to topple them over or worse. This baby was determined to keep his mom safe.
Fortunately for the vets, baby rhinos are born without much of a defense system. They don’t develop their horns until later in life, so as infants they must stick by their mother’s side for protection. This tiny rhino certainly stuck with his mom, but he didn’t need any help fighting off the bad guys.
Despite the little rhino’s attacks, the vets continued to treat the mom’s infected toe. They washed out the area, trying to sanitize it as quickly and effectively as possible. As the men continued their work, something clicked in the baby’s mind.
Suddenly the young rhino seemed to realize that the vets were here to help. He hesitated, finally seeing that they were there to relieve his mom’s injury. At long last, this sweet rhino let the men complete their work in peace.
He stayed by his mother’s side while she was treated. It was clear that the baby still didn’t trust the humans, but at least he gave them permission to heal his mom.
The mother-child bond is a strong one in any species, and this adorable rhino is proof of how special that bond is. This innocent baby was willing to put his life in danger to defend his mom.
We often think of big animals like rhinos as being more intimidating than nurturing, but this baby rhino’s actions challenge the idea that humans are the only ones with strong familial bonds. Wild animals find new ways every day to show us that all life forms are guided by the same social and survival instincts.
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