Building knowledge for the future of rhino conservation.
Before the rhino poaching crisis escalated, very little was known about the specialised rescue, rehabilitation and rewilding of orphaned rhino calves. Care for Wild has helped fill this knowledge gap through years of hands-on care, meticulous record-keeping, veterinary collaboration, field experience and training.
Today, this knowledge supports better decision-making, strengthens conservation partners and contributes to the development of best practice in orphan rhino care.
Specialist rhino care. Veterinary collaboration. Field learning. Research records. Conservation capacity.
The future of conservation depends on people who know what to do
Rhino rescue, rehabilitation and protection are highly specialised fields. Every rescue is different. Every calf responds differently. Every recovery journey adds to the knowledge needed to protect rhinos more effectively.
Care for Wild has maintained detailed records of the rescue, rehabilitation and rewilding journeys of more than 100 orphaned rhinos. These records include admission information, ICU monitoring, weights, biometrics, feeding plans, behavioural observations, movement data, medical history, blood profiles and reintroduction monitoring.
This careful record-keeping creates an important foundation for research, education, training and future reference. It helps improve care protocols, support veterinary decision-making, strengthen rehabilitation processes and contribute to global best practice in orphan rhino care.
Training ensures that this knowledge does not remain in one place. By sharing lessons learned in the field, Care for Wild helps build the people, systems and partnerships that conservation depends on.
Knowledge becomes protection when it is recorded, shared, applied and carried into the field.
Research and training rooted in real rhino care
Care for Wild’s research and training work is grounded in the daily realities of rescuing, rehabilitating, monitoring and protecting orphaned and injured rhinos.
Rhino Rescue and Rehabilitation Knowledge
Care for Wild has developed specialist knowledge in the care of orphaned and injured rhinos through every stage of the rehabilitation journey.
This includes ICU care, High Care, milk feeding, boma rehabilitation, behavioural monitoring, social integration, protected rewilding and long-term post-release observation. Every rhino's journey adds to a deeper understanding of what these animals need physically, socially and emotionally as they recover from trauma and prepare for the next phase of life.
Meticulous Monitoring and Record-Keeping
Professional monitoring is the foundation of effective rhino management. Care for Wild keeps detailed records for each rhino in its care, including medical history, admission details, weight tracking, biometrics, feeding plans, behavioural observations, movement data, blood profiles and reintroduction monitoring.
These records allow the team and veterinary partners to make informed decisions, track progress, refine protocols and build a valuable body of knowledge for future rescue and rehabilitation work.
Veterinary Collaboration
Care for Wild works closely with veterinary professionals to support treatment, monitoring, wound care, medication, fluid therapy, blood analysis, diagnostic work and rehabilitation planning.
This collaboration helps ensure that each rhino receives specialised care based on observation, data, experience and veterinary expertise. The sanctuary's work has also contributed to wider veterinary learning through case experience, conference presentations and knowledge-sharing with specialists and academic institutions.
Training Organisations Across Africa
Care for Wild has provided training, assistance and advice to rhino conservation organisations across Africa and beyond.
Petronel and the Care for Wild team have shared their experience and knowledge with conservation teams in countries including Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as organisations in the United States. This exchange of information helps strengthen rhino conservation capacity beyond the sanctuary itself. By sharing what has been learned through years of direct orphan rhino care, Care for Wild contributes to better outcomes for rhinos across different landscapes and countries.
Rhino Specialist Veterinary Workshop
In 2022, Care for Wild hosted a Rhino Specialist Veterinary Workshop attended by veterinary professionals from around the world.
The workshop created a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and the sharing of best practices in rhino conservation. By bringing together experts from different backgrounds, the event supported the development of advanced strategies and veterinary expertise tailored to the unique needs of rhino care and conservation. This kind of professional collaboration helps move rhino conservation forward, not only for Care for Wild, but for the wider conservation community.
Orphan Rhino Blood Profiling
During the early stages of the poaching crisis, reliable biochemistry and haematology reference values for young orphaned rhinos were limited.
Care for Wild, in collaboration with Dr Albertus Coetzee from West Acres Animal Hospital, has collected and analysed blood samples from young orphaned rhinos over several years. Using IDEXX and Abaxis laboratory equipment, the sanctuary has established in-house reference values for blood chemistry and haematology specific to young rhinos. This ongoing project has produced more than 70 sets of data and provides an important resource when new orphaned calves arrive at the sanctuary.
This information supports diagnosis, treatment and decision-making, and has been made available to other veterinarians. Findings from the biochemistry analysis have also been presented at veterinary conferences, including the South African Veterinary Association Congress, the SAVA Wildlife Group Congress and the Namibian Veterinary Association Congress. The work continues to benefit veterinarians across Southern Africa in the treatment of orphaned rhinos.
Rhino Blood and Plasma Bank
Care for Wild operates one of the few dedicated rhino emergency blood and plasma banks in South Africa.
Plasma contains important antibodies that can help support the immune system of young calves, especially orphaned rhinos that may not have received colostrum from their mothers. During routine immobilisations, blood is collected by a registered veterinarian under strict protocols. This blood is then used to produce valuable plasma that can help save the lives of other rhino calves.
Care for Wild has already provided plasma to several organisations in need across South Africa. In 2021, this life-saving resource supported the care of newly orphaned calves Daisy and Aquazi at Care for Wild.
Groundbreaking Diagnostic Work
In October 2021, Care for Wild and the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort reached a major milestone in rhino veterinary care by successfully conducting the first CT scan on an adult rhino in South Africa.
The rhino, Oz, was orphaned by poachers in 2015 and rescued for rehabilitation, release and ongoing protection. After Rhino Monitors noticed an unusual swelling on his face, the Care for Wild team consulted with veterinary specialists. Oz was transported to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital for further investigation.
The CT scan revealed a tooth root abscess, allowing the veterinary team to administer appropriate treatment. Oz was then safely transported back to Care for Wild and reunited with his crash. This achievement marked an important step forward in veterinary healthcare, diagnostic imaging and rhino conservation. The knowledge gained from this case continues to contribute to the wider understanding of specialist rhino care.
Field Learning and Conservation Capacity
Care for Wild's research and training work is not limited to veterinary care. It also includes practical learning connected to monitoring, protection, field operations, rehabilitation, rewilding and protected landscape support.
The sanctuary's experience helps build conservation capacity by supporting the people and systems needed to care for rhinos over the long term. This field-based knowledge strengthens the connection between daily care, scientific learning and practical conservation outcomes.
Your support helps strengthen conservation capacity
Supporting research and training helps Care for Wild continue building the knowledge, people, tools and partnerships needed to protect rhinos more effectively.
Your support can help fund:
Your support helps strengthen conservation capacity
Supporting research and training helps Care for Wild continue building the knowledge, people, tools and partnerships needed to protect rhinos more effectively.
Your support can help fund:
Trusted knowledge built through real experience
Care for Wild’s research and training value comes from direct, long-term experience with orphaned and injured rhinos.
The sanctuary has cared for more than 100 orphaned rhinos, kept detailed records of their rehabilitation journeys, collaborated with respected veterinary professionals, supported organisations across Africa, contributed to veterinary knowledge-sharing and participated in groundbreaking diagnostic work.
This is practical conservation knowledge developed through daily care, crisis response, scientific observation and long-term commitment.
When donors support Care for Wild, they are not only supporting individual rhinos. They are helping strengthen the knowledge base that improves rhino care for the future.
Detailed records of more than 100 orphaned rhinos
Specialist orphan rhino rehabilitation experience
Rhino blood profiling and laboratory data
Dedicated emergency rhino blood and plasma bank
Training and advice shared across Africa
Veterinary workshop and professional collaboration
First CT scan on an adult rhino in South Africa
Long-term monitoring and rewilding knowledge
A platform for serious conservation collaboration
Care for Wild offers a meaningful partnership route for companies, foundations, universities, veterinary professionals and conservation organisations that want to support the future of rhino conservation.
Research and training support can help advance practical knowledge, strengthen conservation teams, improve veterinary decision-making and build long-term capacity across the sector.
For corporate and institutional partners, this creates a high-value opportunity to support measurable conservation impact, scientific learning, skills development and biodiversity protection.
Help build the knowledge that protects rhinos.
Every rhino saved adds to what we know. Every record kept strengthens future care. Every team trained helps conservation move forward.
Your support helps Care for Wild continue building the knowledge, people and systems needed for the future of rhino protection.
By supporting research and training, you help protect not only the rhinos in Care for Wild’s care today, but the orphaned and injured rhinos that will need expert care in the future.
