Rato's Story

On the morning of 23rd April 2018, rangers in the Stols Nek area of the Kruger National Park discovered a black rhino cow that had been shot by poachers. In the immediate aftermath, no tracks or spoor were found near the carcass, leaving no indication of whether a calf might have survived.

Two days later, on 22 April 2018, rangers and veterinary teams returned to the scene by air to conduct a further search. From above, a small calf was finally spotted close to his mother’s body. The young bull was immediately darted at 16:00 and carefully airlifted beneath a helicopter to the safety of the Skukuza bomas.

The following day, Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary staff, together with Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency veterinarian Dr. Ferreira du Plessis, collected the calf and transported him by crate to Care for Wild. He was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit, where he was closely monitored as he began the first stage of his recovery.

On 24 April 2018, he was moved into a quarantine night pen to settle, and shortly afterwards allowed into the larger boma environment where he could feel grass beneath his feet and begin exploring fresh browse. These early moments marked the beginning of his long rehabilitation journey.

Ratu quickly adapted to his new surroundings. Just over a week later, on 3 May 2018, he was introduced to fellow orphaned black rhinos Phoebe and Badger. Phoebe was initially cautious of the new arrival, while Badger welcomed the presence of another young bull. Over time, the trio formed a stable crash, sharing space, learning social behaviours, and growing together through their rehabilitation.