Quick Take
- A two-month-old rhino was found barely alive after witnessing something no calf should ever have to see. Read Masingita's rescue →
- Her name was chosen deliberately, and its meaning makes perfect sense once you see the video of her calf. See her calf's arrival →
- The road from orphaned calf to mother involves night terrors, dehydration, and a four-year rehabilitation. Trace her four-year journey →
It’s important to take stock of the small moments and little victories. This is especially true if you’re a member of one of the most marginalized and threatened species on Earth. In this Instagram video, a baby rhino can be seen bouncing out of the bush and into the hearts of viewers. This isn’t just any old rhino, either. It’s a baby of Masingita, a survivor of poaching.
It may seem like just another joyful moment between mother and child. However, this video is a testament to just how much hardship some creatures endure before they can find peace, safety, and bloom like the flowers they are meant to be. Let’s learn more about the white rhino, Masingita, and how this Instagram video shows just how far she’s come.
Masingita’s Story
Masingita recovered for four years at the Rhino Revolution’s orphanage.
©Jose Krishnawan/Shutterstock.com
In this Instagram video, a happy baby rhino can be seen jumping out of the bush and onto a dirt road. It trots around joyfully before stomping its feet and mock-charging its mother in a burst of play. While undeniably cute, this baby rhino is actually the offspring of Masingita.
Before she could thrive, Masingita’s mother was poached and killed on a South African reserve. Rescuers found the two-month-old calf dehydrated and barely alive. In response, they airlifted her to Rhino Revolution’s orphanage. They named her Masingita, the Tsonga word for miracle. She was just a bundle of bones then, suffering from night terrors due to the traumatic memory of her mother’s death.
Over the next four years, Masingita recovered until she was able to fend for herself. The orphanage eventually released her into the Rietspruit Game Reserve. As a sign of the team’s successful efforts, Masingita soon gave birth to a healthy female calf named Lesedi, which means ‘light.’ Since then, she has successfully raised additional calves, with her third calf born less than a week ago.
The Gift of Life
In this Instagram video, Masingita’s third and newest calf can be seen as happy and healthy as can be. Even though it is still only a week or so old, the baby rhino is safe and happy under the watchful eyes of its parents. This shows that even those who have experienced great trauma can recover. Like Masingita, we all deserve the chance to flourish, no matter what we have gone through.
