Apollo is thriving at Rhino Base, his personal reintegration unit in Tsavo East. He is growing increasingly independent and now comes and goes from his boma on his own schedule. Still, he remains attached to his Keepers and is highly attuned to their movements, often sneaking up on them like an attentive shadow. His physical condition is excellent — he enjoys his daily mud baths, has a healthy appetite, and is developing into a strong young rhino who may soon be ready to seek out a partner.

True to his black rhino nature, Apollo has become quite territorial. He actively patrols his fence line and makes his displeasure known when wild elephants venture too close or when a clever hippo raids the leftovers outside his boma at night. Despite his territorial behaviour, he happily coexists with the zebras (including a new arrival who turned up last month) and impalas who have taken up residence in his roaming grounds.

We are taking Apollo’s reintegration slowly, as is necessary with black rhinos. However, at six years old, he is well on his way to being ready to expand beyond his current secure area. We believe the year ahead will be a very notable one for him!