After being rescued as orphans in the wild, a rhino and a zebra formed an odd bond.
Adorable photos reveal the ‘life-saving’ friendship of seven-month-old rhino Daisy and zebra Modjadji, who were both rescued by a South African orphan wildlife sanctuary.
Daisy and Modjadji, which means “rain queen,” were both rehabilitated at the Care For Wild animal sanctuary at the Barberton Nature Reserve near South Africa’s border with Eswatini.
On their Instagram feed, the sanctuary has posted the regular image and video updates about the pair’s health and blossoming friendship.
During their lengthy stay in ICU, the inseparable pals were frequently seen cuddling next to each other, and films show them going for walks and eating together.
Modjadji’s love and cuddling were hailed as “life-saving” for Daisy, who came at the refuge in critical condition.
‘This little orphan zebra has been a life saver, always there for her rhino pal,’ read an appreciation post for Modjaji in January.
‘Modjadji is still in her infancy. She is just over eight weeks old and drinks milk every three hours around the clock.
‘Following being discovered alone and barely alive after heavy rains and storms, Modjadji was sent to ICU.
‘Extremely compromised and suffering from acute anemia, she was saved by a blood transfusion from another zebra.
‘Now that she’s a lot stronger, Modjadji cares over our littlest rhino orphan, and we adore her!’
Daisy was discovered less than a month after her mate Modjadji during a routine operation in the Kruger National Park in early December.
She was still moist from the womb at 12 hours old, and her umbilical cord was still attached.
Daisy couldn’t stand, had a “dreadful umbilical infection,” and was exceedingly weak and vulnerable.
For several months, the young rhino received round-the-clock care in the intensive care Unit and a plasma transfusion to improve her immune system.
Daisy turned seven months old on July 9, and the sanctuary posted on Instagram: ‘On this date 7 months ago, the tiniest of rhino calves landed at Care For Wild’s helipad.
‘She took her first steps in the intensive care unit. The following months would be some of the most difficult and difficult we had ever faced.
‘Daisy put ourselves and the vets through a learning experience like no other.
‘Despite small sample size, she climbed into the hearts of thousands of people worldwide with her dinosaur ears, droopy lips, and survival instinct.
‘She has raised international consciousness about the plight of rhinos and will always have a special place in our hearts.
‘One day, she will be old and robust enough to participate in the rewilding and release program. For the time being, she has a long road ahead of her, but she is clearly galloping in the right direction!’
While Daisy and Modjadji remain close, Care For Wild stated that the long-term goal is “a successful release back into their natural environments with their own species.”
‘While Daisy will eventually join the other orphaned rhinos and Modjadji will return to a herd of zebras, their unique bond will always be a key part of their rehabilitation path,’ the sanctuary stated.
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