Rocky
Black rhinos have suffered the most drastic decline of all rhino species. Between 1970 and 1992, the population of black rhinos decreased by 96%. In 1970, approximately 65,000 black rhinos remained in Africa but by 1993, only 2,300 survived in the wild. Since 1996, intense anti-poaching efforts and strategic translocations to safer areas have allowed the species to slowly recover and increase in size to about 5,600 individuals today. Poaching still looms as the greatest threat to black rhinos and all too often, the animal killed was a mother with her vulnerable calf now left to fend for itself.
Rocky was one of those orphaned calves discovered by rhino monitors in Zimbabwe’s Bubye Valley Conservancy. Rocky was badly injured but our partners were able to rescue and rehabilitate him over time – he got his name from his fighting spirit. Eventually, Rocky was released back to a secure location in the wild along with other orphaned rhinos. All orphans from rhino populations where we work are raised under a controlled system to minimize human habituation and dependence, so they can successfully integrate into the local rhino population.
FOR EACH ADOPTION YOU WILL RECEIVE:
- A digital certificate to print
- A digital photo of your adopted rhino to share on social media
- A bio on your adopted rhino
- An exclusive rhino adoption sticker
By adopting a black rhino like Rocky today, you’ll help protect black rhinos in Zimbabwe. Your donation will fund:
- Rhino tracking and monitoring operations
- Emergency treatment and rescue of injured rhinos
- Care and rehabilitation of orphaned rhino calves
- Moving rhinos from high-risk areas to safer locations when needed
Rocky’s Story
Today, Rocky and his black rhino companions are thriving and continue to be monitored by our local partners. We work with these partners in Zimbabwe to track and monitor rhinos, treat injured animals, rehabilitate and return orphaned rhinos to the wild, move rhinos from high-risk areas to safer locations, and work with local communities to build support for rhino conservation.
In the video below, you’ll see that Rocky has met up with a recently rescued & released orphan named Pumpkin.
You can symbolically adopt a black rhino – like Rocky – either in your own name, or as a gift for a relative or friend who supports wildlife conservation.