Mawingo the blind black rhino and her calves

Mawingo (meaning cloud in Swahili) is a 15 year old black rhino female. She has given birth to five calves in her life at Lewa. She lost her sight in a fight when she was quite young and still lived at Nakuru National Park , and although her lack of sight does not present a problem for her it does reduce her ability to look after her offspring.

Mawingo is a very good breeder and she is reproducing on a regular basis.

When she gives birth we try and let the calf be with her for as long as possible. But as we have realised, if we try and leave it with her for too long she will in the end loose it and it will get killed by predators.

Tula (Mawingo's) and Maxx, a black rhino orphan.

This is a short history about her calves

Calf 1 was born on 27th August 1997 but was predated on by hyenas on 1st September 1997, four days after it was born.

Omni, the second calf born on 24th October 1999 was hand raised by Jane Craig until 2002 when he was moved to Il Ngwesi.  He is doing really well and it’s reported that he has already established his territory.

Calf 3, born on 16th July 2002 died on 17th August 2002 from of predation by leopards. 

Tula, is the fourth calf, was born on 4th of May 2004 was also adopted having been found alone two days after her birth and was hand raised by Jane Craig. She is doing very well and is a big strong rhino girl.

‘Jack’ On 10th of  October Mawingo gave birth again to a baby boy, a mere 18 months after she calved Tula (as a matter interest the gestation period for a rhino is only 16 months so there must have been a suitor waiting for Tula to be taken away!).

Bottlefeeding orphaned baby rhino.