Taro's Story

On 24th November 2021, Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary received notification of a poaching incident that had left a critically endangered black rhino calf orphaned. Poachers had taken advantage of severe weather conditions, using the storms and poor visibility to carry out their attack.

The young bull, estimated to be around 18 months old, had been photographed with his mother just days before. The loss was devastating. Although black rhino calves of this age are often weaned, they remain heavily dependent on their mothers for protection, guidance, and survival. Alone in the bush, his future was uncertain. To give him the best possible chance, the decision was made to bring him to the safety of Care for Wild.

Veterinarian Dr Ben Muller and pilot Gerry McDonald took to the skies to locate and immobilise the calf. Once safely darted, it became clear that he was too large to be transported inside the helicopter. Instead, the Care for Wild team began the long journey by road to collect him.

By then, darkness was already falling. Thunder rolled across the landscape as lightning illuminated the storm clouds overhead. Heavy rain and dense fog made visibility extremely difficult, but the team pressed on. After nearly three hours of travelling through challenging conditions, they finally reached the calf.

Once on site, the team carefully loaded him into a transport crate. Following a final health assessment by Dr Ben, the convoy began the return journey to the sanctuary, accompanied by an anti-poaching vehicle for additional support and security.

It was close to 11:30pm when the young rhino finally arrived at Care for Wild. Rain continued to fall as the team worked quickly and efficiently to offload him into a prepared nightpen. Exhausted from the ordeal, he had finally reached safety.

As a black rhino, Taro presented different challenges to the white rhino calves more commonly seen at the sanctuary. Black rhinos are naturally more solitary, independent, and often far more cautious of people. Building trust would take time, patience, and consistency. The team worked carefully to allow him to settle into his new environment at his own pace, while ensuring he received the specialised care and monitoring he required.

Despite the trauma he had experienced, Taro's personality soon began to emerge. Curious and intelligent, he developed a trusting relationship with his caregivers and quickly gained a reputation for his enthusiasm around feeding time. His love of sweet potatoes inspired his name, and the earthy, dependable nature associated with the taro plant seemed a fitting reflection of his character.