In the first 90 days of 2025, 103 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa. They were hunted for their horns, which are sold on the black market; if they had calves, the infants were left grieving next to their mothers’ dead bodies.
This is exactly what happened when two mother rhinos were mercilessly slaughtered, leaving their calves Nola and Cathy orphaned, vulnerable and alone.
Officials report that we are now losing more than one rhino to poachers every day in South Africa.
We must act right away to save this iconic species.
Our partner, Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary (CFW), has been answering non-stop calls for help from a national park in South Africa that has been plagued by a surge in rhino poaching.
Rescuing orphan Nola. Credit: CFW
Just hours apart, two rhino calves were discovered standing helplessly beside the bodies of their slain mothers, whose horns had been brutally hacked off.
Dehydrated, confused and deeply traumatized, Nola and Cathy were quickly airlifted to the safety of CFW’s intensive care unit (ICU). They are now receiving round-the-clock care, special milk formula and comfort from older orphans like Dianna, a gentle rhino known for helping new arrivals adjust to life without their mothers.
ASI team member Shannon Edwards feeding the baby rhino. Credit: ASI/Byron Seale.
Every rhino lost pushes us one tragic step closer to the extinction of this ancient, majestic species.
Unless we act, South Africa’s rhinos will disappear in just a matter of decades.
In the last decade, poachers have killed 10,000 rhinos across Africa to feed the insatiable demand for their horns, leaving less than 24,000 individuals remaining on the continent.
Preventing poaching is a vital step in safeguarding rhinos, and we are working with partners across Africa to stop criminals in their tracks. But right now, there are orphaned rhinos who need our help, and saving these defenseless infants is a crucial step in stopping rhinos from disappearing from South Africa forever.
In the past few months alone, CFW has taken in ten orphaned calves – five of whom are still reliant on milk. Caring for these fragile survivors is intensive and costly, with special milk formula, medical treatment, constant monitoring and 24/7 security all adding up.
Your donation today will help provide vital nourishment and protection to little orphaned rhino calves, Nola and Cathy.
Dianna, an older orphaned rhino at the CFW Rhino Sanctuary, has been a source of comfort for Nola and Cathy after the loss of their mothers. Credit: CFW
If we raise $1,260 (£950), we can give Nola and Cathy life-sustaining milk formula for the next six months. An additional $2,220 (£1,670) will help fit one orphan with a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence tracking collar specially designed to provide enhanced protection against poachers and other threats when they are released into a protected wild area.
We couldn’t save Nola and Cathy’s mothers. But with your support, we can save these orphaned babies, giving them a chance at a safe future.
Please donate generously today.
