Dianna's Story

Dianna's rescue began with tragedy. Her mother had been shot through the jaw by poachers, leaving her with catastrophic injuries. Veterinary teams responded quickly and both mother and calf were moved to a veterinary boma where every effort was made to save her mother's life. Despite the best efforts of the veterinarians and support staff, her injuries were simply too severe, and she passed away.

Dianna was transferred to Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary to begin her rehabilitation journey.

Dianna was wilder and stronger than previous orphans as well as being deeply traumatised by what she had experienced. She arrived frightened, distrustful, and completely overwhelmed by the loss of her mother. Her grief manifested as fear and aggression. She charged at boma poles, pushed against barriers, and fought desperately against her new surroundings. The team quickly realised that winning her trust would not be easy.

In those early days, Dianna was a force to be reckoned with. Her strength and determination were remarkable, but they also reflected the immense emotional trauma she was carrying. More than once she narrowly missed caregivers, including Petronel and Manager Mark, as she reacted defensively to the unfamiliar people around her.

Then came her turning point.

A few weeks earlier, a much younger orphan named Benji had arrived at Care for Wild. Tiny in comparison to Dianna, he seemed an unlikely companion for such a strong-willed young female. Yet from the moment they met, something changed.

Dianna gravitated towards him immediately.

Within an hour of their introduction, the tension that had defined her first days began to melt away. As Benji settled comfortably for his milk feeds, Dianna would stand quietly nearby, watching him. For the first time since arriving, she seemed calm. The frightened calf who had been charging boma poles and avoiding human contact began approaching the fence line when Benji came for his bottle.

The transformation was extraordinary.

Within 24 hours, Dianna was taking lucerne from the hands of caregivers. Day by day, her confidence grew. Benji had given her something no human could provide, the comfort, reassurance, and companionship of another rhino.

From that moment forward, Dianna flourished.

As she progressed through rehabilitation, her natural confidence returned, but now it was tempered with patience and gentleness. She developed into a strong, playful, and affectionate young female who formed close bonds with other rhinos and became a stabilising presence within the crash.