Heartwarming moment an orphaned baby white rhino is taught how to charge

This is the heartwarming moment an orphaned baby white rhino couldn’t contain her delight when she was taught how to charge.

The adorable calf named Maarifa, who is being raised by staff at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya after she was abandoned by her mother, is seen happily chasing after a worker at the wildlife park.

In the extraordinary video, the calf, who arrived at trust when she was just two days old, playfully charges at a member of staff as she tries to get her footing.

The video was shared by Sheldrick Wildlife on Twitter under the caption: ‘Maarifa, the baby white loves to play – the is definitely her favourite game, though she’s yet to master the skill of braking!’

Maarifa’s touching tale begins when a routine morning security patrol by staff at Meru National Park Rhino Sanctuary in Kenya discovered a mother rhino unable to get hold of her calf who was stuck in a muddy pool.

After realising the wild female called Makosi would be unable to retrieve her baby staff at the sanctuary decided to intervene.

However following the rescue Maarifa’s mother began walking away from her calf and staff were unable to reunite them.

Far from being deterred, staff made continued efforts to reunite mother and calf and even brought in a helicopter to locate the mother but she failed to respond to her baby’s calls or scent.

Maarifa was then taken to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nursery, situated within the Nairobi National Park, where she has become quite the star.

Since it was posted on November 29, footage of the headstrong rhino learning to charge has received more than 2,000 views on Twitter.

One user wrote: ‘Probably one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in a long time.’

Another commented: ‘So in love with this little girl! I can’t stop smiling so much that my cheeks hurt!’

A day after the original post, the wildlife sanctuary posted another video of the playful Maarifa galloping through the wilderness.

A tweet by staff read: ‘What miniscule Maarifa (currently) lacks in size, she makes up for with her big personality – and boundless energy!

‘This Foster Friday please consider fostering her as a gift for a loved one – or a gift for yourself – and help support her care.’

Click here for the latest political news