Many of us are aware of the devastating impact that poaching has on wildlife and the natural world. Nowhere is this more evident than in South Africa — one of only four countries in Africa where rhinos are still found in the wild. Sadly, these magnificent animals remain under constant threat for their horns.
Recently, Philip Fouché and members of the Lucy Electric South Africa (LESA) team had the privilege of donating £1,000 (R20,000) to support the preservation of these incredible and highly endangered animals. They also visited The Rhino Orphanage, meeting the baby rhinos whose lives have been saved thanks to the sanctuary’s dedicated work.
Founded by Arrie van Deventer in 2012, The Rhino Orphanage is South Africa’s first and only sanctuary dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of baby rhinos whose mothers were killed by poachers. Arrie was inspired to act after a neighbour called him one morning, distressed that two adult rhinos and a calf had been shot just 400 metres from his home. Realising there were no facilities to care for rhino orphans, Arrie committed to creating one — and built the world’s first dedicated rhino orphanage.
Today, there are nine rhino orphanages across the country. The LESA team were deeply moved by the work being done at the sanctuary they visited and by the stories of resilience they heard. One such story was of three large rhinos that had been rescued after horrific attacks — one had been deliberately blinded, another shot, and a third left with a damaged leg. Despite their trauma, they now live together peacefully in a special care pen. The rhino that survived a gunshot wound even guides and protects the blind one — a powerful symbol of hope and friendship.
The team also learned that when rhino calves are very young, they are comforted by the presence of a lamb in their pen — a simple act of companionship that helps them recover from trauma. Thanks to the sanctuary’s care, some of the once-orphaned rhinos that couldn’t be released back into the wild have even begun to breed naturally — a rare and extraordinary achievement in captivity.
In a heartwarming twist, the land used by the orphanage is leased for just £1 a month by a farmer who himself was raised as an orphan at the Abraham Kriel Bambanani (AKB) children’s home — a cause that Lucy Electric South Africa has supported for many years. This full-circle story reminded the team how every act of kindness, no matter how small, can create a legacy that touches both people and the planet.
Sadly, the illegal trade in wildlife products continues to devastate populations of rhinos, lions, and pangolins — particularly across parts of East Asia. Rhino horns can sell for up to US$400,000 per kg, and in 2021 alone, 451 rhinos were killed in South Africa — the highest number in six years. Without decisive action, these iconic animals could face extinction.
Thankfully, organisations like The Rhino Orphanage are working tirelessly to change that. Lucy Electric South Africa is proud to support their mission and contribute to the preservation of one of nature’s most extraordinary species.