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Return to News Article List New Arrivals at Thula Thula Game Preserve Bring Renewed Hope and Lots of Joy!    by Marissa Lenting Thabo and Ntombi enjoying a snack together. Thabo and Ntombi with a few of their caregivers.    In the past few months the arrival of two new baby Southern White Rhinos have been the talk of the town! Six-month old Thabo and eight-month old Ntombi are adjusting beautifully to their new home at Thula Thula Game Preserve.     The first to arrive, Thabo, was found abandoned by his mother at only a few days old and was rescued by the Moholoho Rehabilitation Center in Limpopo, the most northern province in South Africa. After a few months of rehabilitation, Thabo was driven to Thula Thula where he is cared for by his nanny and fed a milk mixture every 4 hours and grazes on grass around the lodge. Thabo, meaning “happiness” in Sotho, weighed in at 364 lbs. when he arrived and enjoys running around on the lawns.     Just in time for Christmas, Thabo got a friend! Ntombi had been found after her mother had been killed by another rhino and she was also taken to Moholoho Rehabilitation Center. When Ntombi arrived at Thula Thula she weighed nearly 660 lbs.! Ntombi is the Zulu word for “girl” or “maiden”.     Both Thabo and Ntombi receive 24-hour care and spend most of their time grazing and napping. The two rhinos have built quite the friendship and guests can enjoy watching them play from a healthy distance. As soon as they are old enough, the two rhinos will be released onto the preserve where the future of the Southern White Rhino species in the area will be ensured.    One of The Earth Organization’s members donated a significant portion of the funds necessary to acquire these rhinos which is helping us to repopulate the area with rhinos.      When Thabo arrived at Thula Thula it was pouring rain outside, a sign of good luck in the Zulu culture. We wish them both that and we wish you the good fortune of joining us on one of our Eco Safaris where you will get to meet them yourself! The following Gallery is associated with this article: Eco Safaris Return to News Article List

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