“They cuddle together at night."
In early December, rangers found baby rhino Daisy all alone and struggling in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Daisy was just a few hours old and incredibly weak, so her rescuers had to transport her by helicopter to the sanctuary’s intensive care unit. Daisy needed round-the-clock care and feeding, combined with treatments to boost her immune system and help her maintain her body temperature.
But Daisy wasn’t the only baby animal at the hospital.
“Modjadji was admitted to the sanctuary's ICU at the end of November after being found motionless and barely breathing on the reserve after heavy rains and storms. Modjadji was thought to be just a week old,” said Louwhen Bowker, media contact at Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary.
The two young orphans formed a close friendship. And after a month together, Modjadji and Daisy are more like sisters. Wherever Daisy is, Modjadji is right behind her.
“They cuddle together at night, which gives Daisy comfort and security. [Modjadji] is a friend that can be with her 24/7, and this, in turn, helps to prevent too much human contact with Daisy.”
In the wild, Daisy and Modjadji would never have met.
But at the Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary, the baby rhino and young zebra have become unlikely friends and are helping each other recover.
And one day, Daisy and Modjadji will be able to run free with other rhinos and zebras. But, for now, all they need is each other, proving that the family you choose is the family that really matters.
