This screenwriter left the glamour of Hollywood to tell the stories of orphaned rhinos

Helena Kriel never expected to end up in Los Angeles living a city-lifestyle. Having grown up in South Africa, she spent much of her childhood outside and appreciating the bush. But after she got divorced, the award-winning screenwriter felt lost and in need of direction. And so Kriel returned home, hoping to find peace and comfort. “No matter what, we always come back to nature,” she says. Kriel volunteered at a rhino rehabilitation centre, looking after calves who were orphaned by poaching. Following her experience, she set off on a new path for herself, one far removed from the glitz and glamour of the Los Angeles film scene.

“I found my salvation back home with my people and my animals,” Kriel says. To care for the iconic species, she established the non-profit Baby Rhino Rescue. Rhinos are dependent on their mothers until the age of three and cannot survive in the wild without them. The trauma of having watched them suffer at the hands of poachers impacts the animals for years. Through the rescue, everyday people are able to support those on the frontlines of conservation or symbolically adopt a baby rhino. The organisation’s involvement with numerous other initiatives enables their aid to stretch across South Africa. While they supply milk, medication, and other resources for rehabilitation projects, they also assist in anti-poaching efforts and the development of strongholds.

With her organisation, Kriel is making a difference in the lives of innocent rhinos and reminding herself where her purpose lies – in protecting and conserving wildlife. “I think the greatest thing that I’ve learnt is not to take nature for granted and not to take our animals for granted,” Kriel says.

Footage and photos by Baby Rhino Rescue were used in the creation of this film.