The rhinos helping local mothers

Since Thuza and Kusasa arrived at Ngamo sanctuary in May 2022, tourists have been travelling to come and spend some time with them, hear their story, understand their importance for both local people and wildlife, and appreciate the hard work of the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection unit. These tourists have been fundamental to helping sustain and grow the Initiative and have provided much needed funding not only to the project, but also to the communities whose land these rhino are on. Over $125,000 has been generated for the communities since May 2022, with these funds going towards school projects, water pumping efforts and ...the local Ngamo Clinic - including to cover salaries, staff food, drugs and medication, consumables, supplies, transport etc.

Ngamo Clinic welcomed a nurse aid at the beginning of March 2025 to join the team of 2 nurses, 1 superintendent and 1 maintenance and security staff member. This nurse aid, whose salary and food are funded by the community's rhino funds, has a very important primary focus : helping expecting mothers, delivering babies and monitoring new borns.

The local communities are choosing to allocate some of the funds generated by the rhinos living on their lands to the Ngamo Clinic and to hire a nurse aid that will be providing an valuable service to the local women in particular. This shows great initiative by the local people...and demonstrates clearly how valuable the local wildlife is!

Thandolwenkosi Sibanda, the clinic's new nurse aid, is 27 years old and was raised in Sipepa, 35 or so kilometres from Ngamo. From a young age, she developed a passion for healthcare; during her primary years she was actively involved in first aid responses as well as athletics. She also worked at the local Ngamo Primary school for a bit. With time, her interest in healthcare grew, and she opted to pursue a career in nursing. Thandolwenkosi is thrilled to join the team at Ngamo Clinic as a new nurse aid and is excited to bring her skills and enthusiasm to Ngamo Clinic and contribute to delivering exceptional patient care.

For more information about the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, contact us  here