Rhino rescue centre welcomes eighth calf this year
· The South African
A rhino rescue centre in Limpopo has welcomed the birth of its eighth rhino calf in 2026.
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In 2020, Jessie the white rhino – then a mere four-month-old calf – arrived at the Rhino Orphanage, wounded and afraid, after her mother was poached. She soon flourished under their care, with her carers describing her as “extremely gentle.”
Now, six-year-old Jessie has a calf of her own to love and care for!
JESSIE WELCOMES BABY BOY
The Rhino Orphanage confirmed the birth of Jessie’s calf on its social media accounts, including in an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.
Take a look at these photos of Jessie and her new bundle of joy:
“We are so excited to share that Jessie’s baby boy has arrived,” the post reads. “The Team [sic] is absolutely delighted to announce the birth of calf number EIGHT to a TRO orphan in 2026. Thats [sic] a new rhino for every month of the year so far … plus a little extra.”
They continued: “We can not [sic] feel more blessed. The monitoring team has relocated Jessie and she had the tiny newborn baby close by her side. She was very calm, but still a bit tired. Very attentive to the crinkly little one, gently nudging him, there wasn’t a more serene and peaceful scene.”
MASSIVE YEAR FOR RHINOS
We’re barely seven months into the year, and the Rhino Orphanage’s population has already grown exponentially, thanks to the addition of eight crinkly, calf cuties.
In fact, 2026 so far has been an overall big win for these animals: back in May, a rescued white rhino at the Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary also became a first-time mother.
And just last month, nine female rhinos were successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in Mozambique as part of a wildlife restoration programme.
It’s always awesome to hear about how these amazing animals continue to defy the odds – not just by surviving, but also by thriving as they truly deserve to. Indeed, their future looks bright, and we can only hope it continues to shine.
Share your thoughts on the latest addition to SA’s rhino population in the comments below!