Baby rhino afraid to sleep alone after mom poached for horn

Gertjie is a four-month-old baby rhino who currently lives at the South African Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center (HESC) but who has a grim tale in his past.

The little rhino was found lying next to his dead mother, killed by poachers for her horn.

'It was a devastating sight, as the tiny animal would not leave her side, and was crying inconsolably for her,' said a HESC statement.

As a result of this traumatizing experience, Gertjie is now too afraid to sleep alone. During his first night at the center, a worker slept with him in the enclosure and another worker sleeps with him outside, during his afternoon nap.

However, Gertjie is the most beloved animal by the staff. He's being fed once every three hours, he has a snuggle program and even a surrogate mother in the form of a sheep.

HESC plan to care for the rhino until he will be weaned at 15 to 18 months and then set him free again in the wild.

Gertjie even has his own live cam.