1 year of Mlevu and Asenze at Sanctuary 2!

Over the last 12 months, our Cobras scouts have gotten to know Mlevu and Asenze more intimately…here are some their highlights.

Getting to know Mlevu - the legacy of a leader

Mlevu, along with his companion Asenze, made the long journey to Mlevu Sanctuary in September 2024, travelling over 750 kilometers over 17 hours.

Mlevu has quickly adapted to this spacious new sanctuary, establishing his territory and settling in, ready for the eventual introduction of female rhinos. Physically, Mlevu is an impressive animal, with a broad neck and chest, and long legs. He is expected to grow into a very tall and powerful bull.

Mlevu is energetic, curious and often stubborn. He’s playful and bold and is known to have the biggest appetite and loves to wallow in the mud.

Mlevu is named after the local Ward Headman, a respected community leader, passionate advocate for wildlife conservation and one of the project’s most committed champions.

Getting to know Asenze - the steady force

Asenze is one of the second pair of white rhino bulls introduced to the Mlevu Sanctuary in September 2024, as part of the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative (CRCI).

Asenze is the younger and smaller of the two bulls. With a long body and a shorter size, he plays the subordinate role, but his calm demeanour makes him a favourite among the Cobras, the elite community wildlife protection scouts.

They describe Asenze as predictable, alert and responsive. If ever unsettled, he listens to his bodyguards and can easily be calmed, even stopping a charge when called upon.

His name, Asenze, means “Let’s do” in Ndebele, reflecting the community’s determination and optimism to drive the conservation project forward.

Thank you to all who have supported this journey so far.

We could not have done it, and will not be able to do it, without your support.

Support us by:

• Sponsoring a Cobra scout or Cheetah scout, the men and women scouts protecting the rhino 

• Adopting a rhino

• Making a donation

• Coming to visit as a tourist or as a volunteer

• Supporting our canine unit

• Supporting our awareness work

• Supporting our technological needs

• Supporting our integrated land management efforts

Photos from friends and supporters Caroline Leclerc, Chris L’Abbé and John Towey.

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