Due to human poaching activities, the presence of rhinos throughout Europe, Asia and Africa has decreased drastically over the past few decades. Poachers brutally attack the rhinos and the species is now threatened with extinction. Thandi is a very special rhino that gave birth to a calf that should never even have been born.
At the Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa, veterinarians and rescuers found three rhinos who had been assaulted by poachers. The three animals were darted and their faces were brutally hacked just for their horns. One of the three rhinos was already dead by the time rescuers arrived, and Thandi and Themba were still fighting for their lives.
The rhinos were completely mutilated and in very bad shape.
Doctor William Fowlds made sure that the large animals received all the medical attention they required. The female Thandi was slowly getting better, but Themba’s situation worsened quickly. Because of his injuries, Themba passed away a couple of weeks later. The veterinarians and volunteers were absolutely devastated.
However, the slowly recovering Thandi formed a beacon of hope. Surgeons attempted to recover the skin on Thandi’s stump using a number of different techniques.
Testing also revealed that Thandi was actually pregnant with a calf.
She was still in the early stages, and it takes around 16 months before a baby rhino is born.
Months passed and volunteer Angie Goody returned to the reserve to check on Thandi and her pregnancy. The rhino was monitored by the reserve and did quite well, considering the circumstances. Almost two years after the poaching incident, Thandi gave birth to a beautiful female calf.
Both mom and daughter were in good spirits and healthy.
“Yesterday less than 25,000 African rhino remained in the wild. Today we add a number to that score,” the Kariega Game Reserve Eastern Cape posted.
The baby was named “Thembi”, which means “hope” in the local South-African Xhosa language.
The birth of Thembi was an incredibly special moment for all those involved, and a special moment for Mother Nature as well.
Thandi’s story inspired Angie to start her own organization to protect rhinos from poaching, in honor of Thandi and Themba. The charity organization Thandi’s Endangered Species Association was formed and assists local helpers and volunteers by providing medical treatments and equipment such as tracking collars and telemetry devices.
Be sure to check out Thandi’s amazing story in the video below, where you can watch Thandi’s incredible journey.
“This is the story of the rhino that should never have been born.”
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