SORAI

Some journeys are measured in kilometres. Others are measured in the impact they leave behind.

Before setting off on an independent cycling adventure, Oscar made a decision that would give his journey a greater purpose.

“I chose to do this cycle because, after finishing school, I wanted to travel, but stay productive. I didn’t want to do the normal route of South East Asia, meeting more people from schools around my area than locals. I wanted a raw, fresh independent experience in a new land that would exhibit pure beauty, at the cost of some hard work each day.”

When planning his expedition, he knew he wanted to raise funds for a conservation cause, and SORAI was the first organisation that came to mind.

After visiting South Africa last year, his perspective on wildlife changed forever.

“Watching wild dogs, hippos, lions and rhinos really emphasised the fact that they are incredibly special souls. Learning more about SORAI sparked a real passion for conservation and protecting these remarkable species.”

Oscar set himself an ambitious fundraising goal. While he may not have reached the number he originally hoped for, what he achieved is nothing short of inspiring.

Through determination, resilience and every kilometre he pedalled, Oscar raised an incredible £2,316.37 for SORAI.

Conservation is built on people who choose to care, to act, and to turn their passion into something meaningful. Oscar has done exactly that, and every pound raised will help support the protection of Africa’s endangered wildlife.

From all of us at SORAI - thank you, Oscar. Your journey has become part of ours, and we couldn’t be more grateful. 💚

The Mahindra Scorpio, made possible through their generous partnership with Sorai and Kevin Pietersen, has become an invaluable asset to the Care for Wild team. Versatile and dependable, it plays an important role across so many aspects of our work, supporting the rescue, rehabilitation and protection of rhinos.

This week the Mahindra Scorpion provided to Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary through our generous partnership with Mahindra South Africa ,was part of a complex operation to relocate an adult rhino to Care for Wild after veterinary assessment determined he required ongoing safety and care. The Scorpio supported the team throughout the operation, transporting personnel, essential equipment and supplies needed for the darting, immobilisation, treatment and transfer.

Whether responding to emergencies, supporting veterinary interventions, transporting equipment or assisting their field teams, this vehicle is constantly on the move. Behind so many of the stories we share, you’ll find the Mahindra Scorpio quietly helping to make the work possible.

One of Africa’s most significant conservation milestones has just unfolded in Zambia.

After almost three decades of absence, cheetahs have returned to the Greater Luangwa Ecosystem, marking the restoration of one of Africa’s most iconic predators to a landscape where they were last recorded in 1998.

The reintroduction saw six wild cheetahs—three males and three females—carefully translocated from South Africa through a collaborative effort involving Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Zambian Carnivore Programme and several conservation partners. Every stage of the operation, from veterinary assessments and transport to post-release monitoring, was meticulously planned to give the animals the best possible chance of establishing a thriving population.

The return of the cheetah is about far more than bringing back a charismatic species. As one of Africa’s top predators, cheetahs play an important ecological role by helping to maintain balanced prey populations and healthy ecosystems. Their reintroduction also restores a piece of Zambia’s natural heritage that has been missing for nearly 30 years.

For wildlife enthusiasts and photographers, the news is equally exciting. South Luangwa is already world-renowned for its exceptional leopard sightings, thriving lion prides and African wild dogs. The successful establishment of cheetahs would make this remarkable ecosystem one of the few places where all four of these iconic predators can once again be found together.

Conservation success stories like this remind us that when governments, conservation organisations and local communities work together with a shared vision, it is possible to reverse local extinctions and give wildlife a second chance.

Here’s hoping these six pioneers are just the beginning of a thriving cheetah population in the Luangwa Valley.

📍 Greater Luangwa Ecosystem, Zambia

Five suspects have been arrested after authorities intercepted the alleged illegal sale of a live pangolin near Malmesbury in the Western Cape.

Acting on intelligence, law enforcement officers conducted a surveillance operation at a petrol station along the N7 before moving in on the suspects. A search of their vehicle uncovered a live female pangolin concealed inside a white drum in the boot. The animal was safely rescued and handed over to the appropriate wildlife authorities, while the five suspects, aged between 28 and 53, now face charges relating to the illegal possession and trade of an endangered species.

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals on Earth. Across Africa and Asia, they are targeted by criminal syndicates for their scales and meat, fuelling an illegal wildlife trade that continues to push these remarkable animals towards extinction. All eight pangolin species are protected under international law, and South Africa’s Temminck’s ground pangolin is protected under national legislation, making it illegal to possess, transport or trade the species without the necessary permits.

This successful operation is a reminder that intelligence-led investigations and collaboration between law enforcement and conservation authorities remain critical in disrupting wildlife trafficking networks. Every rescued pangolin represents more than a single life saved—it is another step in protecting one of the world’s most threatened and least understood mammals.

Wildlife trafficking is organised crime. If you suspect illegal wildlife activity, report it to the relevant authorities. Every report has the potential to save a species.

India’s rhinos continue to prove that conservation works.

The latest census in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has recorded 53 greater one-horned rhinos, marking another encouraging milestone for one of India’s most important rhino populations.

Once pushed to the brink by habitat loss and poaching, the greater one-horned rhino has become one of conservation’s greatest success stories. Today, more than 4,000 remain in the wild, with the vast majority found in India and Nepal.

Dudhwa’s rhino population was established through reintroductions that began in the 1980s, and decades of habitat restoration, anti-poaching efforts, scientific monitoring, and dedicated management have allowed the population to steadily grow. Every successful census is another reminder that conservation requires patience, long-term commitment, and collaboration.

While many rhino species around the world continue to face significant threats, stories like this demonstrate what is possible when people invest in protecting wildlife over generations.

The last known wild Bornean rhinoceros may soon be captured in what conservationists describe as one of the most consequential wildlife interventions of our time.

The female, known as Pari, is believed to be the final Bornean rhino still living in the wild. With no known surviving wild males, her chances of reproducing naturally are effectively nonexistent. Rather than allowing this unique lineage to disappear, Indonesian conservation authorities plan to relocate her to the Kelian Rhino Sanctuary, where assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF), could offer the last opportunity to preserve her genetics.

The decision is not without controversy. Capturing the final wild individual of any species carries significant risks, from the stress of translocation to the uncertainty of reproductive success. Yet many scientists argue that leaving Pari in the forest would almost certainly result in the extinction of the Bornean rhino lineage.

If the operation succeeds, it could represent a landmark moment in conservation, demonstrating how cutting-edge reproductive science may help prevent the loss of one of the world’s rarest mammals. If it fails, it will serve as a sobering reminder of how little margin remains for species pushed to the very edge of extinction.

This story is more than the fate of a single rhino. It reflects the difficult decisions conservationists must increasingly make as habitat loss, poaching, and shrinking populations leave technology as the final line of defence against extinction.

Today, we celebrate the extraordinary fathers of Care for Wild.

Not all fathers share the same face as the children they raise.

Some wear field boots instead of dress shoes. Some spend their days preparing milk bottles, walking alongside frightened calves, offering quiet reassurance, and standing watch through long nights. Yet the qualities that define them are universal.

Patience. Compassion. Strength. Protection.

Every orphaned rhino at Care for Wild has endured unimaginable loss, but thanks to these remarkable men, they also experience something just as powerful: safety, trust, and the unwavering presence of someone who chooses to show up every single day.

Their role extends far beyond caregiving. They help frightened calves find confidence, nurture resilience, and prepare them for the day they can once again roam free. Perhaps that is the greatest act of fatherhood - to love enough to let go, knowing your purpose was never to hold on forever, but to give them every chance at a life of their own.

To the fathers at Care for Wild, thank you for your dedication, your kindness, and the countless unseen moments that shape the future of every rhino in your care.

And to fathers everywhere, in every form that fatherhood takes, we wish you a very Happy Father’s Day.

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