Abandoned, Alone and Attacked by Jackals, Tiny Rhino Calf is Rescued in The Nick of Time

In Swahili, the word “Raha” means joy — and once you’ve met this remarkable little rhino, you’ll understand why the name fits her perfectly. Her story begins with pain and uncertainty, but it quickly grows into something deeply hopeful — a reminder of why every single life matters, especially when that life belongs to one of Kenya’s critically endangered black rhinos.

A Tiny Calf Found All Alone

On September 23, 2022, scouts at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy came across a heartbreaking sight: a newborn black rhino calf, all alone, injured, and with no other rhinos nearby. She was barely a week old — impossibly small, clearly in distress, and completely without protection.

No one knows for sure what happened to her mother. It’s possible she was rejected, or maybe there had been a confrontation between adult rhinos and the calf was unintentionally separated. Whatever the cause, it left this fragile baby vulnerable. And sadly, predators didn’t miss the opportunity — jackals had already attacked her, leaving behind painful, serious wounds.

A Life-Saving Response

The moment her situation became known, the SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Veterinary Unit sprang into action. When they reached her, they found a calf in rough shape — frightened, in pain, and covered in injuries. Her tail had been bitten off, and the damage extended deep into her rear end. This wasn’t just a rescue anymore; it was a race to save her life.

Thankfully, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust helicopter had just wrapped up a routine maintenance check in Nairobi, so it was ready for immediate use. With a Keeper onboard, the team flew straight to Ol Pejeta and scooped the tiny calf into their care. From there, she was taken to the Nairobi Nursery — a place where orphaned rhinos like her are given a second chance.

Fighting Through the First Weeks

Raha’s early days at the Nursery were touch-and-go. Her injuries were more than just skin-deep — the jackals had damaged her tailbone and destroyed her anus. One of the first big hurdles was her inability to defecate, which could have turned fatal very quickly. But with expert veterinary help and a lot of gentle support, her body slowly began to function again.

What’s remarkable is that despite the trauma, Raha never gave up. From day one, she was full of energy and attitude — charging around her stable, huffing and puffing like a much bigger animal. The Keepers, knowing rhinos are naturally tactile and responsive to affection, didn’t let her grumpiness faze them. Instead, they offered soft scratches and ear rubs until, bit by bit, Raha warmed up to them. Soon, she was completely smitten.

Baby Steps Into the World

Because of her injuries, Raha’s outings had to be carefully managed at first. Her early explorations were limited to a bed of hay in a protected stockade — a safe space that kept her wounds away from germs and dirt. But after several weeks, her body had healed enough to venture a little further. She took her first curious steps into the surrounding forest, where her world started to open up.

Wrapped snugly in her little blanket, Raha now wanders through the Nursery grounds with the wide-eyed curiosity of any young animal discovering the world. She nudges everything with her soft nose — the same spot where one day, her horn will grow. Her days are filled with learning, playing, and bonding with her Keepers — and each one is a small but important victory.

A Growing Presence at the Nursery

Raha isn’t the only rhino at the Nursery. Maxwell, an older blind rhino who lives nearby, has definitely picked up on her presence. Whenever she passes by his stockade, he wanders over to his gate, intrigued by the newcomer. It’s a sweet, silent connection between two very different but equally special rhinos.

At the end of each day, Raha returns to her warm stable, where she’s greeted with a cozy mattress and a bottle of milk. Her Keepers have noticed some quirks — at one point, she even tried wearing her mattress like a little tent, just like another orphaned rhino, Apollo, used to do. She’s slowly revealing her personality, one funny habit at a time.

A Symbol of Hope for a Threatened Species

Raha’s story is more than just a rescue — it’s a window into the bigger picture of black rhino conservation. These magnificent animals were once widespread across Africa, but decades of poaching brought their numbers crashing down. In Kenya alone, the population plummeted from around 20,000 in 1970 to just 350 by 1983.

Thanks to ongoing protection efforts and tireless fieldwork, there’s been real progress. Kenya now has more than 900 black rhinos — still a critically endangered number, but one that’s moving in the right direction. And every calf, like Raha, represents not just a saved life but the potential to help rebuild an entire species. In the forefront of conservation efforts are organizations like the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust gearing up to every situation helping animals in need.

Looking Ahead: A Wild Future for Raha

Recently, Raha was weighed, and she came in at a healthy 40 kilograms (88 pounds). It’s hard to imagine that this once-tiny calf, who arrived with serious injuries and a fighting spirit, will one day grow into a strong adult rhino — maybe even a mother herself, living wild and free. However due to her anal injuries, she does not feed as a rhino should fearing discomfort during elimination. She is still recovering and vets are still unsure what the future holds for her although they are optimistic.

That day to complete recovery is still a long way off. But for now, Raha is exactly where she needs to be safe, cared for, and loved. And for everyone involved in her rescue and recovery, she’s a daily reminder of what’s possible when compassion, action, and determination come together. Watch her rescue story: