The poaching war on rhinos is unfortunately a very real threat to the species and every day men and women are risking their lives to fight back and save the ones that are still inhabiting the African bush. Unfortunately they can’t be everywhere all the time and once in a while sad news disturbs the peace of mind one normally finds in the bush. Last year, at least 1175 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone, and that’s not including the numerous orphaned calves that don’t stand a chance without their mothers. If nothing changes, there’ll be no rhinos left in the wild in ten to fifteen years’ time.
Image by Anja Riise
A worrying report from a guide out on game drive the other day, told of a young rhino with a suspicious wound and I was able to join the investigation into what had happened. The guide who had found the wounded individual stayed with it to keep an eye on it until we arrived, just as the sun was setting.
Image by Anja Riise
The rhino in question was located with others and was still moving around with them, although far from enthusiastically. It was confirmed that the individual was shot a few days prior. On closer inspection, we located an entry and exit wound, meaning that the bullet had passed through and was not lodged in the rhino. A few phone calls were quickly made to notify those concerned and to call in a helicopter for the following morning. As it was already getting dark, obviously no helicopter would be sent at this late hour and we could only hope they wouldn’t move too far during the night.
Image by Anja Riise
Next morning a helicopter arrived with the veterinarian, Gerhardus, in a spot not far from where we had left the rhinos the previous evening. The helicopter was sponsored by Rhino 911, a recently established non-profit organisation trying to make a difference in the fight against poaching. The helicopter barely touched ground, dumped some of its heavy load and got the last known coordinates of the wounded individual.
Image by Anja Riise
Image by Anja Riise
From the air, they started scanning the area in the direction which the rhino had been moving the previous evening. We, as the ground crew, were waiting for news from the air. Often injured animals head off on their own and hide in thickets, so it can be quite a challenge to locate them. Incredibly, within ten minutes we were told that the rhino had been relocated and the pilot (and co-founder of Rhino 911), Nico, proceeded to push them towards one of the roads in the area. Easy access is of utmost importance, to reduce the amount of time the animal needs to be sedated and worked on. Not even 100 m from the road, the rhino was darted successfully and we all grabbed water, medical equipment, and towels and hurried through the thickets.
Image by Anja Riise
The rhino went down moments after we had reached it. Its position was checked in order to ascertain that it could breathe freely. A towel was quickly thrown over its face to not stress it unnecessarily and water was poured over it at regularly to keep it from over-heating. It was amazing to see how the bullet seemed to have missed anything vital on its way through the body, giving the rhino a fighting chance. The wound was cleaned numerous times, fluids were pumped into the entry and exit holes and then squeezed out again in a stream of pus mixed with antiseptic liquid, to prevent infection. When Gerhardus was satisfied with the cleaning of the wound, antibiotics were administered and the ears notched, to give this individual his “id-number”.
Image by Phillip Hattingh
Image by Anja Riise
Image by Anja Riise
Being this close to a wild rhino and seeing it being helped back to health was an emotional experience that I will never forget. Hopefully, those of us who were there, will be able to tell our future guests, how we were there when this particular individual was saved and how it spurred us to greater involvement in conservation.
Image by Anja Riise
Image by Anja Riise
As we finished up and all moved out of the way, the vet stayed behind to give the rhino a reversal drug. In no time, it was up again and on wobbly legs moved off in the direction of its companions. I can’t wait to go out on drive again soon in this area, to see if me and my guests can spot him and hopefully seeing him doing well and having regained some of his life spirits after the ordeal.
Image by Anja Riise
If any readers or guests would like to get involved, or donate much needed funding to the conservation efforts that take place in Madikwe Game Reserve they can donate to the Madike Concessionaires Forum. This fund is used for the reserve for Anti Poaching work, treating animal emergencies (such as the one we blogged on) and all the other incredible conservation work being done.
Banking details for the Concessionaires Forum are:
Madikwe Concessionaires Forum
RMB Private Banking (FNB)
Branch: 22 20 26
Account: 624 541 697 17
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXXX