Havannah's Story

In mid-October 2025, Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary welcomed a very special orphan whose story began differently from most.

While many of the calves that arrive at the sanctuary have lost their mothers to poaching, Havannah's mother passed away naturally after living an extraordinary life spanning more than four decades. She was a well-known and much-loved rhino cow from the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, a mother who had successfully raised multiple calves throughout her lifetime. Having survived droughts, predators, and decades of challenges in the wild, she reached an exceptional age before finally succumbing to the effects of old age after a difficult winter.

Behind her, she left one final calf.

Although Havannah was older than many of the orphans admitted to Care for Wild, she was still too young to survive alone. Rangers immediately recognised the urgency of the situation. Without her mother's protection, guidance, and milk, her chances of survival would diminish rapidly.

What followed was a remarkable collaborative effort.

Over the next 48 hours, dedicated teams searched tirelessly across the reserve. Rangers tracked on foot and by vehicle while drones scanned the landscape from above. Care for Wild joined the operation on the Tuesday afternoon, working alongside the Timbavati teams to locate the missing calf.

On Wednesday morning, the search finally came to an end.

Havannah was found safe.

Wildlife veterinarian Dr Ben Muller immobilised the young calf and prepared her for transport. She was then transferred directly to Care for Wild, where her rehabilitation journey began.

Despite everything she had experienced, Havannah revealed her gentle nature almost immediately.

She arrived in the Intensive Care Unit frightened and uncertain, but remarkably calm. That very first night she accepted her milk bottle, an important milestone for every newly rescued orphan. For young rhinos, feeding is about much more than nutrition. It is often the first step in building trust and helping a calf feel secure in an unfamiliar environment.

Like many new arrivals, Havannah initially wore a blindfold and earplugs to reduce sensory stress. These simple but important tools helped soften the overwhelming sights and sounds around her, allowing her to focus instead on the reassuring presence of her caregivers, the comfort of her milk feeds, and the safety of her new surroundings.

As her confidence grew, the blindfold and earplugs were gradually removed. Within just a few days, she was strong enough to leave ICU and move into the larger High Care rehabilitation facility. There she continued to settle into her new routine, learning to trust the people caring for her while gaining strength with every passing day.

One of the most important steps in any orphan's rehabilitation is finding companionship with other rhinos.

For calves who have lost their mothers, social bonds play a critical role in recovery. Through other rhinos they learn confidence, communication, boundaries, and the complex social behaviours they will need throughout their lives.

Havannah's first introduction was with Victoria, another young orphan of a similar age and size. However, Victoria was eager to return to her own companions, Tippie and Takazani. Recognising this, the rehabilitation team adjusted their approach and introduced Havannah to the entire group instead.

The result was immediate.

The four young rhinos quickly formed a close friendship. Together they began the next stage of their rehabilitation journey, learning from one another and building the social foundations essential for a future in the wild.

Havannah's rescue is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people unite around a shared purpose. Rangers, ecologists, veterinarians, pilots, rehabilitation staff, and conservation teams all played a role in ensuring that one small calf was given a second chance.

Her story also honours the legacy of an extraordinary mother. For more than forty years, Havannah's mother contributed to the future of her species through the calves she raised. Today, that legacy lives on through her youngest daughter.