Baby Wyntir, the orphaned rhino calf, adopted and supported by TRAC, and raised and cared for at the Care for Wild sanctuary in Mpumalanga, is thriving. Now nearly nine months old, she has settled comfortably after the senseless killing of her mother by relentless poachers last year.
Under the auspices and guidance of the Care for Wild founder, Petronel Niewoudt, Wyntir's growth is most satisfactory. She is now about three times the size she was when she arrived at the refuge and currently tips the scales at an astounding 300 kilograms. More good news from the veterinary surgeon who monitors the calf, is that Wyntir has learned to cope with the loss of her ears and, to the delight of the personnel, is now producing her own ear wax. This is a tremendous benefit for the overall health of the animal as the wax fights off infection and further seals the canals.
At a recent visit to Care for Wild, TRAC was elated to see that Wyntir has "fallen in love". Being Valentine’s Month, our hearts melted when we witnessed her newly formed bond with a male, Mabush, which we can assume will be her “husband for life”. This rhino is the selected breeding partner for her in the future.
In addition to Mabush, Wyntir has further cemented her relationship with two calves, Tana and Thor, the latter being from the endangered species, the black rhino. According to the centre’s assistants they are all inseparable.
As Wyntir and her new-found companions continue to mature in safety, the only problem at the moment seems to be trying to get them to eat less of the windfall mangos in their enclosure. Apparently, the calves enjoy the fruit immensely, but too much of this juicy goodness tends to upset their tummies!
