Incredible footage shows the two-tonne beast carrying the mud-covered foal over its head after becoming trapped. When this zebra foal slipped into a mud pit, its unlikely savior arrived in the form of a two-tonne rhino. When the enormous beast noticed the tiny zebra stuck in the mud, it tried to raise the helpless creature with its horn. Roel van Muiden, a South African guide, was touring people around the Madikwe Game Reserve when he came across the astonishing image. “This was a remarkable relationship between two animals that I was fortunate to see,” he added.
“When we arrived at the dam, we saw numerous rhinos interacting with one another.” It took me a long to see the small zebra foal caught in the mud since a male was pursuing some females and then being scared away. “Because the herd was nowhere to be seen, the foal had to have been there for quite some time.” Roel then narrated the heart-stopping moment when the rhino chose to interfere, maybe to aid the trapped animal or simply out of curiosity.
“A rhino bull made his way down to the river, close to the muddy place where the foal was trapped.” Curiosity drove the rhino to prod the zebra with his horn. He became anxious after a time and took the body out.” “The foal, which was still alive but feeble, could barely lift its head out of the dirt.” “He went on. “The rhino hoisted the newborn so rapidly that the foal didn’t have time to respond.” The rhino subsequently dumped the foal and continued on its way. He then returned for another prod and a look-see.
“He hoisted the zebra in a different posture this time, and his horn disemboweled the foal.” “I’ve been guiding for about 10 years and I’m sure I’ll be leading for many more and never see something as magnificent and melancholic as this,” Roel said. Despite the rhino’s best efforts, the little foal did not survive the rescue mission. Not only zebras but also rhinos require assistance from time to time. Amazing video footage of rhinos being carried – upside down – by a helicopter is provided below.
