Hoedspruit, South Africa – When little the baby rhino named Gertjie had its mother savagely killed by poachers, the conservationist group known as Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) stepped in to nurture and care for the endangered extant.
While rhinos are known for being ill-tempered, it appears that the stereotypical behavior is displayed to outsiders. For Gertjie, her caregivers at HESC are family. You’ll see the rhino interact with them much as a playful dog would interact with its masters.
Gertjie is seen standing before a woman who is quite comfortable sitting on the ground with her legs folded as she gently caresses it under its chin.
The rhino repeatedly makes a cackling like sound which may be its equivalent of a cats purr.
The baby is large enough to cause any human physical harm should it bum rush them, but the woman seems quite at ease with it. At one point, the woman has to gently but sternly direct it as it attempts to draw closer to her. It is as if it wants to climb onto her lap. As she speaks softly to it, the rhino lays itself on the ground with its head on her lap.
Anyone who’s owned a dog or cat has experienced this affectionate display with their pet. The video was part of a promotion run by “Pick n Pack”, South Africa’s second largest food chain. The grocery store was allowing its customers to donate their rewards points to HESC to support his important endeavor.