The award-winning Wildlife Foundation is raising funds for endangered rhinos following the birth of a rare Eastern Black Rhino at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
The arrival of baby Rocco, who can be seen at the award-winning park’s rhino reserve, was a significant moment in the European breeding programme for the species whose numbers have dropped to below 1,000 in the wild.
His birth has sparked awareness in their plight and Wildlife Foundation is organising the appeal in his honour to provide vital funding to support a young rhino calf called Bella and help other rhinos at the Ol Jogi Conservancy in Kenya.
The rhino calf who was later named Bella had been attacked by a predator and sustained infected wounds whilst being severely dehydrated and unable to walk. She was rescued and since then she has been hand raised by staff at the Conservancy.
After stabilising her and treating her infections Bella remained in critical condition for many months. She has now made a full recovery and has now grown into a 226kg healthy one-year-old.
The team at OI Jogi hope to reintegrate her into the wild population in two years’ time.
The Ol Jogi Conservancy, in Kenya, operates across 58,000 acres providing a safe habitat for indigenous and critically endangered species. It is home to a healthy population of 100 rhinos and runs an influential breeding programme as the species continues to face poaching threats, which devastated its numbers from 70,000 in the wild in the 1970’s.
Working with Save the Rhino, the Wildlife Foundation has previously supported several projects for rhino conservation at Ol Jogi providing cameras to deter poachers and upgrading radios for park rangers at the Conservancy.
You can make a donation to support endangered rhinos via our Donate page. All funds raised will support teams like the Ol Jogi Conservancy, in Kenya, which operates across 58,000 acres providing a safe habitat for indigenous and critically endangered species.
