We left Gulu yesterday and headed 3 hours south on the road to Kampala to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This was my second time going as we visited last year as well. We arrived, changed clothes, and headed back out in the mutatus into the bush. We were accompanied by one of the guards named Christopher, who explained that we were to walk in a single file line and remain quiet around the rhinos. We saw Bella, her calf Augustu and Taleo feeding in an open area. Once again, it was amazing to stand so close to them.
Over the last year, the sanctuary has had 3 births, thus bringing the population of rhinos up to 9. They named the baby, who was born last year while we were here, Obama because his father is Kenyan and his mother is from Disney’s Animal Kingdom in America. The other calf was named through a fundraising auction and is called Justus. They had pictures of all of them, and they are so cute.
The sanctuary also rehabilitates other animals as well. They have connections throughout the community who will call if they are needed. We saw several DLTs (“deer like thing”) whose mothers had been poached. They nurse them until they are well and then release them back into their habitat. They have done this with monkeys, parrots, and other animals. It really is a great organization, and they subsist solely on donations and visitors.
It was such a relaxing trip and so nice to get to hang out with everyone in Group 1 before Group 2 arrives on Tuesday.
I am loving your blog. You are a brave woman, and I appreciate your attempts to debate, though they seem somewhat futile. :) Take care of yourself.
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