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Baby rhino recovers under knitting group's blanket

Hillcare Hercules the baby rhino. He is lying down on a matt, with a colourful knitted blanket draped over him. He has a small horn on the end of his nose. His front, right leg is wrapped in a white bandage.Hillcare
Three-week-old Hercules was attacked by hyenas but is expected to make a full recovery

A baby rhino is recovering from a hyena attack in South Africa under a blanket knitted by a group of North East nannas.

Three-week-old Hercules suffered multiple fractures, crush injuries and several infected wounds following the attack, but is set to make a full recovery.

The blanket, made by the Knitting Nannas from Hazelgrove Court Care Home in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, near Redcar, Teesside, was sent more than 5,000 miles (8,046km) away to a rhino sanctuary in Mpumalanga, where the orphan was rescued.

Knitter Betty Wood, 100, who was born in South Africa but moved to the UK after World War Two, said she felt she had "done something for my home country" by taking part in the project, adding: "Hercules is so cute".

The women spent several months knitting blankets on behalf of the charity Blankets for Baby Rhinos, which were given to the Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary in Barberton Nature Reserve.

Residents were sent a photograph of the recovering calf, which has taken pride of place inside the home.

Sheila O’Neill, 83, said seeing the "cute little fellow" under one of their blankets had made her day, while Joyce Wooffindin, also 83, added: "To see Hercules wearing one of our blankets brought a tear to my eye."

Sharon Lewis, activities co-ordinator, said it was "wonderful" for the residents to take part in the project.

"It has been the icing on the cake getting a photo of Hercules being comforted by wearing one of our blankets," she added.

Hillcare Liz Conroy, from Blankets For Baby Rhinos, with Hazelgrove Court Care Home residents Joyce Wooffindin, 83, Joyce Baxtrem, 94, Sheila O’Neill, 83, Betty Wood, 100, and Netta Danckwerts, also from Blankets For Baby Rhinos. The four elderly residents are sitting on armchairs with their colourful blankets spread across their knees.Hillcare
The Knitting Nannas of Hazelgrove Court were delighted to see Hercules recovering under their handiwork

Blankets for Baby Rhinos supports wildlife orphanages by supplying them with knitted and crocheted clothing and items.

The craftwork is also used to raise funds to buy equipment for the sanctuaries.

Charity trustee Liz Conroy said The Knitting Nannas' donations really helped with the care and recovery of orphaned rhinos, like Hercules, and she hoped more people would join them in "in protecting this critically endangered species".

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