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Arthur The Baby Rhino Lies Beside Dead Mother After She Was Shot By Poachers

Arthur The Baby Rhino Lies Beside Dead Mother After She Was Shot By Poachers

Arthur is being treated for injuries he got while trying to protect his dying mum

Rachael Grealish

Rachael Grealish

An orphaned newborn rhino calf was found with a hunter's dart hanging out of his back, lying next to his dead mother - who'd been murdered for her horn.

The tiny calf, named Arthur, only had his life spared because he is too young to grow his horn - his mother was unlucky and was another victim of rhino poachers.

Arthur was found cowering next to his dead mother with an injured foot and the poachers' dart still embedded in his skin.

His attempt to protect his mother appear to have led to his injuries, with poachers suspected to have seen the baby as trying to get in the way.

Little Arthur was hit by a machete during the brutal attack as he clung to his dying mother.

SWNS

When Arthur was found by rangers earlier this year, he was swiftly evacuated from the scene and taken to the Care for Wild Rhino orphanage where his injuries were treated over the following weeks.

This is where he was named Arthur the Brave - testament to his resilience and loyalty to his mother.

Although Arthur is slowly recovering and growing he still makes heartbreaking calls for his mum.

Volunteers at the orphanage describe the call as 'a heart wrenching sound' and one that he 'should never have to make'.

SWNS

Arthur isn't without surrogate support - staff at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton, Cumbria, have adopted the young rhino and have pledged to raise at least £1,600 a month to fund his rehabilitation.

Their conservation project has been named 'Arthur's Army' and is the zoo's first since the new Cumbria Zoo Company took over in May 2017

Describing their adoption as 'a very proud moment', Cumbria Zoo Company's chief executive Karen Brewer, said: "This brave little rhino was given the regal name Arthur, meaning noble and courageous, and fitting for his fighting survivor's spirit.

"Arthur is on the road to recovery. He has made friends at the sanctuary with fellow Rhino orphan Summer, and is a firm favourite with his care-givers.

SWNS

"In the wild a rhino calf will stay with his mum for three years. Arthur's mother was snatched from him at an early age, Arthur still calls out for his mum; he will be emotionally scarred for a long time."

All the money raised by South Lakes Safari Zoo, from staff and visitors, will help to rehabilitate and treat Arthur and any other orphans living at Care for Wild's rhino sanctuary.

SWNS

Care for Wild - of which Prince Harry is an ambassador - is the largest rhino sanctuary and orphanage in the world.

It is the designated treatment and rehabilitation centre for orphaned rhino coming from the Kruger National Park - the main source of the world's largest remaining rhino population.

Extinct: A race against time to save our endangered species. Read more from our campaign here


Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: Extinct, World News, News, Animals