A North Yorkshire care home group called ‘The Knitting Nannas’, have been supporting a baby rhino recovering from a life-threatening hyena attack.
The orphaned three-week old calf, Hercules, suffered multiple fractures and injuries following a vicious attack in South Africa.
However, the young rhino, now being cared for at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, in Mpumpalanga, is on his way to full health, and a care home knitting group have helped where they can.
‘The Knitting Nannas’ from Saltburn, North Yorkshire, 5,000 miles away from Hercules’ home, have been knitting blankets for several months for charity Blankets for Baby Rhinos and now the group’s love is helping Hercules back to recovery.
The knitting group at Hazelgrove Court Care Home in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, have since seen photos and videos of the baby rhinos benefitting from their donations and say it has “made their day” and they feel they have “done something”.
“I feel extremely proud that I have been part of this project and to see Hercules wearing one of our blankets brought a tear to my eye,” Joyce Wooffindin, 83, a Knitting Nanna, said.
Sharon Lewis, activities coordinator at Hazelgrove Court Care Home, said the residents were “delighted” when they saw a photo of Hercules wearing one of the group’s blankets and that Hercules has shown “immense strength, endurance and determination and is on the way to recovery”.
“It has been the icing on the cake getting a photo of Hercules being comforted by wearing one of our blankets. It was wonderful for our residents to take part in this project and Hercules’ photo has taken pride of place in our home,” she said.
One resident, Betty Wood, 100, born and raised in Durban, South Africa, before moving to England with her late husband, Ron, after the end of the Second World War in 1945, said: “I feel by taking part in this project I have done something for my home country and Hercules is so cute.”
Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary is the largest orphaned rhinos sanctuary in the world and specialises in the rescue, rehabilitation, rewilding and protection of orphaned and injured rhinos.
Blankets For Baby Rhinos was launched to support wildlife orphanages such as this by supplying them with knitted and crochet blankets and clothing. The group uses their crafts to raise funds for beneficiaries to supply much needed equipment and animal feed.
Liz Conroy a charity trustee from Blankets For Baby Rhinos said: “We welcome knitters, crocheters and crafters to produce items that we can use as donations and ‘The Knitting Nannas’ from Hazelgrove Court Care Home were kind enough to get involved.
“Their donations are really helping with the care and recovery of orphaned baby rhinos in South Africa, including little Hercules, so we thank them for their support and hope others will be encouraged to join us in protecting this critically endangered species.”
Another member of the knitting group, Sheila O’Neill, 83, added: “Seeing Hercules in one if our blankets has made my day. He is such a cute little fellow.”