The Rhino Orphanage’s little Kolisi is officially one year old. The white rhino orphan arrived at the rehabilitation centre in 2019, where the team nursed him back to health following a hyena attack.
Kolisi recently celebrated his first birthday. Credit: Instagram / The Rhio Orphanage
‘Our Braveheart Kolisi has reached 1 year old. We can’t believe how time has flown since he arrived,’ wrote the Orphanage on social media.
‘Being a year old means that the 6 months weaning process begins and Kolisi has seen his first reduction this week. It is a slow process with 500ml of milk reduced from the daily total every week. Sudden changes in diet can lead to gastric upset in rhino calves and it is done, as always, with the utmost sensitivity.’
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In 2019, Kolisi was attacked by hyenas which left him with extensive trauma to the bone and tendons in his hind foot.
He was rescued and rehabilitated by The Rhino Orphanage, with a team of experts tending to his leg. His supportive leg boot came off in July, and Kolisi recovered well. He had to be kept in a small area, however, to limit movement so his leg could grow stronger.
Also read: Baby rhino Kolisi’s boot comes off
When his boot was finally removed, the young rhino’s leg looked in good health and his caretakers were happy with his progress.
Also read: Baby rhino Kolisi dances for joy
His foot still seems to be giving him some trouble, however. He started limping mid-week and had a visible slight swelling on the previously injured foot which turned out to be a small abscess.
‘Dr Pierre paid Kolisi a visit and says that it is most likely a small pieces of bone still left behind from his injury in December, which is being sequestered by the body. He gave Kolisi some antibiotics and our boy gets a painkiller in his milk once a day untill the abscess has healed,’ the Orphanage explains.
