Shielding a giant

Thula Thula managing director Fran�oise Malby-Anthony, widow of conservationist Lawrence Anthony, with Thabo " one of the orphaned calves which was hand-reared in the reserve. Pictures: Siyanda Mayeza

Thula Thula managing director Fran�oise Malby-Anthony, widow of conservationist Lawrence Anthony, with Thabo " one of the orphaned calves which was hand-reared in the reserve. Pictures: Siyanda Mayeza

Published Oct 22, 2013

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A sanctuary to rehabilitate orphaned rhino calves is expected to open at the Thula Thula Private Game Reserve, in Zululand, next year.

The Thula Thula Rhino Sanctuary will house rhino calves who have lost their parents through poaching, natural death or abandonment.

Managing director Françoise Malby-Anthony said the idea for the sanctuary was inspired by the successful rehabilitation of two white rhino – Thabo and Nthombi.

Thabo had been abandoned by his mother when he was just a day old. Nthombi was orphaned when her mother was put down after being injured in a fight with another rhino.

They were taken to the reserve when they were just four and eight months old respectively. Charged with their care was Alyson McPhee, a veterinary nurse from England who was there as a volunteer.

Four years later, she has grown so attached to her “babies” that she considers the bush her home.

McPhee was the only human they had contact with. As their surrogate mother, she had to be with them 24 hours a day.

“We ran and played, and I ensured they got all they needed.”

At the time, each gulped down about 20 litres of milk each day, an appetite befitting these animals which can weigh up to 2.5 tons.

Over the years McPhee has grown very close to them, and they to her.

“Many just see them as these big prehistoric creatures, but they have so much character. Thabo has a great sense of humour.

“Whenever a man approaches me, he either stands between us or follows him around as if to say, ‘You are not allowed near her.’ They are very protective of me.”

McPhee recalled a day she was upset and in tears.

“They were grazing, but as soon as they saw me they stopped and came and stood on either side of me, shielding me so I could not see anyone and no one could see me until I calmed down.”

Although they have since been released into the reserve she still checks on them daily.

It was after such a routine check earlier this year that Thabo was shot by poachers.

Fortunately they missed, hitting her in the leg before being chased off by guards. McPhee shudders at the thought of either one being killed for their horn.

“They have become my world, my life. I would just die if they were poached.”

With the rhino poaching toll in South Africa at 746 so far this year, 70 in KZN, Thula Thula is on high alert – especially after the capture of two suspected poachers in the reserve last Friday.

“The poaching situation is getting worse, with the numbers rising every month. It is getting more barbaric, more brutal,” said McPhee.

She believes most poaching syndicates use people on the inside.

“Over and above all the anti-rhino poaching measures there needs to be more education to establish a connection between people and rhino,” she said.

“Making people aware of their importance will create a bond not only with rhino but to the heritage they carry.”

Malby-Anthony said the poaching was one of the reasons they felt they had a responsibility to establish the sanctuary – a measure to safeguard and ensure the survival of rhino.

The Thula Thula Rhino Fund will also help to this end.

One of the revenue streams for this fund is the sale of paintings of Thula Thula’s rhino by local artists. These end up on the walls in the homes of international tourists.

“This helps create awareness within the international community – it is only now starting to dawn on them how serious the problem in South Africa is,” Malby-Anthony said.

Speaking to Malby-Anthony, one could not be blamed for thinking she was a tourist herself. Despite living in South Africa for more than 10 years, she still has a heavy French accent.

She speaks passionately about her late husband, Lawrence Anthony – best-selling author, conservationist, humanitarian and founder of The Earth Organisation.

The “elephant whisperer’” as he was fondly known, died last year.

“We are carrying on his legacy. His spirit and passion for protecting the environment and animals was contagious,” said Malby-Anthony.

She shares a strong bond with the animals at the reserve, which include her late husband’s beloved elephants, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, hyena, crocodile, zebra, buck and bush pigs. Many of them have names.

 

She believes the answer to curbing the “alarming” rate of rhino poaching is to deter buyers.

“There has to be education to stop the demand; they must know that rhino horn has no medicinal value.”

 

In the meantime, Thula Thula will continue to have an electric fence around it and armed guards 24 hours a day.

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