Alone and trembling, the orphaned rhino curled beneath a car for comfort, still searching for the warmth of the mother poachers stole.

The young calf was found dehydrated, covered in wounds and emaciated as she approached the vehicle in desperate need of rest

The exhausted orphaned rhino was found badly dehydrated and starving

These heartbreaking pictures show an eight-week-old orphaned rhino cowering in the shade of a car after her mother was killed by suspected poachers.

The young calf was found dehydrated, covered in wounds and emaciated as she approached the vehicle in desperate need of rest and medical help.

The baby was so exhausted that she was visibly shaking – and was forced to lean against the car to keep herself upright.

Liam, who works as field guide in the Park, said: “She made a number of what we know as ‘contact calls’ – a vocalisation that a calf will make to locate its mother and to beg for milk. “She looked on for a few moments and then rested her chin on my door.

“Now this is a completely wild animal so for myself and all others in the car, the situation is clearly not normal.”

After the experienced wildlife guide realised the mother was not nearby, he began to tend to the injured animal, pouring water over the calf’s body to cool it down and providing it with a few refreshing sips.

Another car alerted the nearest ranger’s station and a helicopter arrived to airlift the young rhino to safety.

Illegal poaching is rife in the area, with South African environment minister Edna Molewa unveiling plans last month to evacuate hundreds of rhinos from Kruger National Park.

Shockingly, Liam suggested that the calf may only have survived because poachers felt that killing her was a waste of ammunition – since she was not yet mature enough to have a horn worth harvesting.