An adorable friendship has blossomed at The Rhino Orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Jamila the rhino was brought to the sanctuary with stab wounds in her back when she was one month old. Due to her feisty personality, her rescuers suspect that she was injured while trying to protect her mom from poachers, who target rhinos for their horns.
Jamila is too young to be housed with other rhinos at the orphanage, who are all at least one year old and much bigger than her. Luckily, one of the sanctuary’s smaller residents has taken a liking to her: a cat named Mewie. Mewie, who’s affectionately referred to as the “king of the orphanage,” has lots of friends. But when he met Jamila, he knew there was something special about her.
Baby rhinos need a lot of attention, and Jamila struggled with missing her mom when she first arrived at the orphanage. Staff members provided her with constant companionship while Mewie patiently waited for her to warm up to him. The playful pair are now inseparable. They love to take walks and play silly games together!
Jamila will be released back into the wild when she’s old enough to take care of herself. In the meantime, she’ll spend her days in the company of her favorite feline sidekick.
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The problem is, the orphaned rhinos become accustomed to people and trust people. What is the orphanage’s stats on survival rate for these rhinos after they’ve been released into the wild? I can’t imagine they are well equipped to survive wild animal attacks or poacher encounters after being acclimated to kind humans. Watch MY WILD AFFAIR | The Rhino Who Joined the Family which is a very heart-warming story of a rescued rhino who could not ultimate survive in the wild. I applaud the work of the sanctuary, but please allow these orphaned rhinos to stay within protected territory.
Yes, me too. I agree. Don’t release this baby back in the wild when he’s grown. The poachers will kill him for sure. How heartbreaking to think of the things he has seen in his little life. Trying to save his momma. Very, very heartbreaking. I wish we could all gather those innocent animals and keep them safe and protected.
One day – soon – Proverbs 2: 21 – 22 will be fulfilled. Cruel people will be gone, kind people will remain. I cannot wait for that to happen.
Beautiful; all these animals have so much love for each other.
@Kristine Colarossi I second everything you said. Rhino should never be released….
This is so cute. But I agree with others, please don’t release Jamila back into the wild, she could suffer at the hands of disgusting, cowardly poachers!
Please let jamila stay at the sanctuary instead of releasing her when she is old enough. Let her stay safe if she is real eased into the wild she wouldn’t survive, and mewie would miss her a lot
How precious!!!!
After watching video, it makes NO sense to me at ALL that they would ever release this rhino back into the wild when they’ve made her so tame, even sleeping with her, she now trusts people, and is even more vulnerable to the same horrific fate as her mother, I just don’t get it!!! I’ve always heard that when wild animals are rescued, and have a chance to be released, the people intentionally limit their contact with them to give them the best chance of survival, but they have done the exact opposite here, the baby rhino is like a pet, and sees people as her safe place, a family member despite their great work, and efforts! She should remain in sanctuary, not ever released into the wild, she will be more of a target than her truly wild counterparts, that’s my opinion. I wish her well, and LOVE that cat!!! 🙂
Very nice story and video. So glad the baby rhino is in a safe place but at the same time, I am heartbroken to hear that she would be released back into the wild. Doesn’t that put her in the same danger as her mother with poachers? Obviously her mother was murdered and stripped of her horn by poachers. I don’t think that is a very wise decision to do. Hopefully that won’t occur and she can be placed in a sanctuary with the larger rhinos.
Wonderful story of saving the baby rhino,the mother being poached is desperately sad – but, can you really release these animals? They will not fear humans enough? Unless you release them into a “protected sanctuary.” Is that in fact what happens?
wHAT CHANCES WILL SHE HAVE IF THEY RETURN HER TO THE WILD
The reason for Jamila’s arrival at the sanctuary are sad. But what a beautiful friendship Jamila and Mewie have. ??????
Sad story about the mom and good for the baby to fight those damn poachers, but then suffer the wounds. Glad she was brought to the sanctuary and has a great friend in Mewie! Animals always seem to know when others need help, whether they be the same species or not. Thanks for a good story to start the day with.
How sweet! They look like best friends!! ❤️
OMG!! Jamilla an Mewie are the cutest!! Thank u so much 4 taking care of Jamilla!! What a beautiful sanctuary!! Especially with Mewie there!!
Sooo agree with you… but I still feel sick to my stomach to think of a little baby rhino getting stabbed while trying to help his Mama and seeing her die… Oh I just hate it… Gail
Keep up the good work!!!!!!!
So heartwarming. I think this is the antidote to the anguish and rage info on the felon animal abusers around the world cause people who follow and sign petitions.
Beautiful just Beautiful. That’s very sweet friend to the rhino. They are going to have a very strong bond between the two. ???