When a ranger on patrol in South Africa saw something splashing around in a small dam, he didn’t think twice before stepping in to help. Moving closer, he realized a young zebra lay in the water.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
Stuck and desperate for help, the zebra foal thrashed about. Ranger Bernardo tried to pull the foal out himself, to no avail.
He called Petronel Nieuwoudt, founder and CEO of Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, for assistance.
Nieuwoudt, already out in the field with another animal caregiver, immediately headed towards the dam.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
“When the team arrived, Bernardo was struggling to get the foal out on his own,” Rachael Pfeiffer, who handles media and communications for Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, told The Dodo. “This foal was likely only a day old and still very wobbly on his feet.”
Using all the strength they had, Nieuwoudt and her colleague gripped the slippery zebra and pulled him out of the water.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
“He was extremely cold and soaking wet and had likely been in the water for several hours,” Pfeiffer said. “While he was clearly in shock, he remained calm throughout the rescue.”
Nieuwoudt covered the foal in towels, rubbing his tiny body to dry him off and keep him warm.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
She didn’t see his herd anywhere, and she wanted to make sure the zebra was OK, so the team transported him to their sanctuary’s intensive care unit.
Once inside, Nieuwoudt realized the baby was much younger than she initially thought: His umbilical cord was still attached.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
“We believe his mother came to drink and that he slipped in,” Pfeiffer said. “A mare would not usually leave a newborn foal unless something had gone wrong.”
Though hypothermic, the baby had no injuries or water in his lungs. They gave him some sugary milk as he warmed up and regained some energy.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
In the meantime, rangers and Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary’s conservation technology manager were on the ground and flying drones to locate the foal’s herd.
“Our rangers know the local wildlife extremely well,” Pfeiffer said. “Different zebra herds have distinct home ranges … and this particular herd often drinks at that water point.”
Once they located the baby zebra’s herd, Nieuwoudt and an animal caregiver walked the wobbly baby into the area and released him.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
From a distance, they watched as he called out to his mother and the herd approached him.
“His mother immediately nuzzled him,” Pfeiffer said. “He responded to her scent, and he was accepted back without hesitation.”
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
In a Facebook post about the rescue, Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary celebrated this happy ending: “As a registered wildlife rehabilitation centre, our core purpose is always to return animals safely to the wild whenever possible. Seeing this little foal back with his mother, where he belongs, was a moment of true joy for the entire team.”
If you’d like to support Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, you can donate to their efforts through their website.
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