Laura Ellison works as a veterinary nurse at The Rhino Orphanage in South Africa and recently shared a few adorable clips and photos of her and a baby orphaned rhino named Kabelo.
“Really, I’m just his pillow,” she writes. “Rhinos are incredibly gentle and these calves are just big babies that seek comfort and security just like any other infant.”
Click on the image below to play the video.
“Kabelo laid down next to me this morning and kept adjusting himself so he could comfortably rest on my stomach or chest,” she writes. “My bond with this rhino is indescribable. My love for him has no words.”
However, Laura is quick to point out that as strong as her bond is with Kabelo, she wish she wasn’t even in his life. “These animals are incredible, but we should not dull the light on the majestic wild animals that they are. Baby rhinos are not pets, they are in trouble. I would give anything for these rhinos to be with their mothers and not me. But poachers robbed them of that right.”
“While I want you all to experience the gentleness of rhinos, to fall in love with them as I have and inspire the same desperation I have to save them, I must stress the relationship I have with our rhinos that allow these experiences. I have been with Kabelo since his arrival to the orphanage and we have developed such a strong bond. While Kabelo is so comfortable with me, he is not with many others.”
“Here is a few shots of Kabelo when he first arrived. I slept with him for 5 nights until he was used to his surroundings, noises and did not stress being alone.”
“He was so gentle, being so aware not to step on me or hurt me while I was asleep. A few times I woke up to him sucking on my face or feet. Such a gentle little giant.”
Laura shares what happens when young rhinos like Kabelo are first admitted into the orphanage. “When young rhinos are admitted, depending on their condition, stress levels and age, we sometimes have to sleep with them. Rhino calves have very strong bonds with their mothers and are not used to being alone. Us carers will bond with the calves to minimise stress and to ease the transition into the rehabilitation process. Our calves have very minimal contact with humans to ensure they do not imprint to humans as a whole and just remain bonded to and accepting of their carers only.”
“I have spent a lot of time caring for him and nursed him [Kabelo] after losing his mother.”
Click on the image below to play the video.
It’s time to wallow in the mud!
Laura says Kabelo has a love so forgivingly. “Humans took his mother and for him to trust me the way he does is incredibly bittersweet. Rhinos deserve a life with their mothers without human interference.”
“How anyone can want to hurt them is beyond me. Obviously Kabelo would not act like this with anyone, but his capacity to love and the pure gentleness of that love will always take my breath away. And this isn’t limited to Kabelo’s personality, rhinos really are gentle giants. To have such power and display such tenderness, if only all humans could learn something from rhinos, we’d live in a much better world.”
Share Laura’s work with The Rhino Orphanage and babies like Kabelo with your friends and family!
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