Davi, the rhino, has faced the most heartbreaking situation, only at the age of 8 months. He was initially meant to spend three years beside his mom, nursing from her and getting all the love and attention from her. Sadly, everything changed last week.

Few poachers killed his mom for her horns and Davi might have seen all of it.

Rangers arranged for Davi to carefully travel to The Rhino Orphanage in South Africa after they found him. The team even gave him some earplugs so that he wouldn’t be stressed with the noise of the transport truck and people speaking.

It was apparent how traumatized Davi was, once he got into his room. He spent the entire first night crying out for his mom because he was missing her immensely.

“His calls for mom echoed deeply and urgently throughout the night, but two carers have been with him every step of the way,” caretakers said in an update. “At least he is in good physical condition [and] has no injuries except a broken heart, which we are positive will be mended by the love and care of everyone in our team.”

Sadly, it’s not just Davi who knows this heartbreak. Wild rhinos are regular targets of poachers, who sell these innocent animals’ horns to illegal wildlife trade. As rhino horns are composed of keratin, they are precious ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.

“He seeks our comfort, and that is a major step forward,” his caretakers said. “After six very long days of incredible patience, tenderness, calm quiet voices, sometimes frustration and disappointment, and the return of untouched bottles of milk, Davi has finally started drinking from a bottle! [This] had our carers crying tears of relief and joy. He has polished several litres of milk [off] already.”

Davi has turned into a social little boy from a terrified and lonely calf in less than a week. And recently, he even found two other orphan rhinos named Lolli and Lotti, who he can count on no matter what.

Lolli and Lotti lost their moms because of poachers as well. Ever since these two baby rhinos met at the orphanage, they have been best friends. And in no time, Davi will be their inseparable mate as well.

“Although little Davi still wanders off to a quiet corner and calls occasionally, he likes the closeness of his new companions,” caretakers said.

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