



Two orphaned rhinos - Gertjie and Matimba - have been released to the wild for the first time, after being taken in by conservationists five years ago.

The pair lost their mother to poaching when they were rescued and rehabilitated by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.

Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre co-director Adine Roode says there is a lot that goes into hand-raising a rhino.

There is a lot of things that goes into such but once they start trusting you, it is amazing to start that relationship but you also know at some stage you need to break that bond again to release them. Adine Roode, Co-director - Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre

She explains that the reintegration and rehabilitation process does not happen overnight.

You can only start releasing your little orphans at the age of five to six years, then they are capable of defending themselves. You need to take into account this process of five years until we are able to release them where they are. Adine Roode, Co-director - Hoedspruit Endangered Species

We do have people observing them. Adine Roode, Co-director - Hoedspruit Endangered Species

Click on the link below to hear the full interview...