At about ten months old, Lihawu, a white rhino, spent weeks alone in the South African bush after poachers killed his mother. By the time he was rescued, he was dangerously dehydrated, hypothermic and so weak that he could not even lift his head.
He is now safe in the care of our partner, Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary (CFW), but he faces months of specialized nutrition, veterinary care and rehabilitation to recover.
When Lihawu was found, he was severely dehydrated, hypothermic and weak. Treatment began right away, giving him the best chance to recover. Source: CFW
Lihawu is one small survivor of a much larger crisis.
In 2025, almost one rhino was killed every day in South Africa.
Behind every statistic is a precious, individual animal that lost its life – and in many cases, a calf left vulnerable and defenceless without its mother.
For Lihawu, those weeks alone nearly cost him his life.
When he arrived at CFW, the veterinary team began intensive stabilization immediately. Too weak to drink on his own, he was given tiny amounts of milk by syringe while the team worked to restore his hydration, temperature and strength.
Slowly, he began to recover.
His suckle reflex returned. He began drinking milk from a bottle. His temperature stabilized. His circulation improved. And around 48 hours after his rescue, he stood – then he drank two liters of milk from a bottle on his own.
Too weak to drink alone, Lihawu was initially fed milk by syringe until his strength slowly returned and he could feed from a bottle. Source: CFW
Lihawu is getting stronger. He has left intensive care and is beginning to explore his new environment, become more familiar with his caregivers and express the normal behaviours and instincts of a young rhino.
But survival is only the beginning.
Rhino rehabilitation is a long-term commitment. Lihawu needs the nutrition his growing body would have received from his mother – including regular milk feeds, supplementary feed such as lucerne and oats and nutritional supplements.
He also requires dedicated caregivers monitoring his behaviour, appetite and energy levels around the clock, alongside ongoing veterinary care, blood tests and physical examinations to ensure he continues to develop normally and stay healthy.
Lihawu’s care costs approximately $990 (£734) per month.
Lihawu still has a long recovery journey ahead. Every bottle of milk, every check-up and every moment with his caregivers is a small step toward the life in the wild he deserves. Source: CFW
We need to raise as much as possible to provide the support Lihawu needs for the next six months as he is helped to heal and grow stronger.
Will you donate today to support this orphaned rhino calf through his recovery?
We could not save Lihawu’s mother. We cannot undo what happened to her or reunite mother and child.
But we can be there for young Lihawu.
With your help today, we can give this young rhino the best possible chance of surviving, healing and, one day, returning to a protected area where he can live as a wild rhino.
Please donate as generously as you can to Animal Survival International today to help give Lihawu his second chance.
