Cape Town - Conservation is most likely the last thing on the average eight-year-old’s mind.
But Hunter Mitchell, 8, from Somerset West was so moved by the story of a young rhino calf that was abandoned by its mother, that he raised more than R10 000 towards the baby rhino’s care.
The calf was among four born in three months since October at Aquila Private Game Reserve, but after it was rejected by its mother, staff at the game reserve appealed for help online.
“I was following the stories of all the rhinos being born at Aquila on their Facebook page and when the baby was born on New Year’s Eve I was so excited but then sad to hear his mom had abandoned him. I waited all day watching for updates from Aquila to find out if he was okay and safe. As soon as I heard I knew I had to help,” Hunter said.
He told the Cape Argus he had asked his mom what the calf would need and she told him the staff at Aquila would have to feed him and keep him safe and warm. “I knew that would need lots of money to be able to do that properly.”
Hunter’s mother Lynley Mitchell said during Christmas the family spoke about how they should be thankful.
“We told our boys that they should be thankful they are having food for Christmas because some people are not as fortunate, and that they should not complain about what they have.
“When Hunter heard about the abandoned baby rhino he wanted to help.
“He asked ‘what would the abandoned rhino need to survive?’ and when I told him he said he would raise money to help – and I helped him set up a Facebook page.”
Since January 1, he has managed to raise more than R10 000 from both local and international donors, she said, adding that her son loves animals.
The game reserve’s spokeswoman, Judy Mannering, said: “What he’s done for us is amazing because we are in need to help raise this rhino.
“It needs an enclosure built for it to live in for 18 months and it also needs animal companionship and people to look after it 24 hours.”
Mannering said there “needs to be more Hunters out there” to help the baby rhino and also to help in the fight against poaching.
“We are running a competition for those who would like to help.
“You can SMS ‘Rhino’ to 42555 at a cost of R3 and there are prizes to be won,” Mannering said.
Cape Argus