A BABY rhino has been recovering from a life-threatening hyena attack with the support of a North Yorkshire care home knitting group called The Knitting Nannas.
The orphaned three-week old calf called Hercules suffered multiple fractures, crush injuries and several infected wounds following the attack in South Africa.
However, the young rhino found comfort during his recovery with a blanket made more than 5,000 miles away in North Yorkshire.
The young rhino is now on his way to full health at the Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary, in the greater Barberton Nature Reserve, in Mpumalanga, in the north east of the country.
The sanctuary has been the recipient of several hand-knitted blankets produced by The Knitting Nannas, a knitting group at Hazelgrove Court in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
The group’s members have been producing the blankets for several months for Blankets For Baby Rhinos.
They were then taken to South Africa by the charity’s trustee Liz Conroy, who showed the residents photos and videos of the baby rhinos who would benefit from their donations.
Sharon Lewis, activities coordinator at Hazelgrove Court, said: “Our residents were delighted when Liz sent us a photo of Hercules wearing one of our blankets.
“After being attacked by hyenas at just three-weeks-old, little Hercules was left fighting for his life, but this little rhino calf 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.”