A Rhino, An Elephant and a Race Against Time
At Saving the Survivors, no two wildlife interventions are ever the same.
Recently, our veterinary team was called to assist a White Rhino cow suffering from a severely damaged horn. While injuries to horns can appear straightforward at first glance, they often require careful assessment and treatment to prevent complications and ensure the animal’s long-term wellbeing.
As the team prepared to examine and treat the rhino, it quickly became apparent that this intervention would present challenges far beyond the injury itself.
A dominant elephant bull had taken a particular interest in the situation and refused to leave the area. Time and again, he returned to the rhino, remaining close to the scene and creating an increasingly dangerous environment for both the injured animal and the veterinary team working on the ground.
In the African bush, wildlife follows its own rules. While every effort is made to conduct interventions calmly and efficiently, the presence of a large and potentially unpredictable elephant can dramatically alter the situation in an instant.
With the rhino safely immobilised and treatment underway, the team needed space to work. The elephant, however, had other ideas.
Recognising the growing risk, the helicopter pilot played a crucial role in the success of the operation. Using the aircraft’s noise and downdraft, he carefully and repeatedly encouraged the elephant away from the scene, creating a safe working area for the veterinarians without causing unnecessary stress to the animal.
The coordination between the pilot and ground team allowed the rhino to receive the treatment she needed while ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
It was a powerful reminder that conservation medicine is about far more than veterinary expertise alone. Every successful intervention depends on teamwork, communication, experience and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances in a truly wild environment.
Working with free-ranging wildlife means there are no controlled conditions, no hospital wards and no guarantees. Every operation unfolds in the animals’ natural habitat, where the surrounding ecosystem and its inhabitants can influence events at any moment.
Thankfully, thanks to the skill and dedication of the entire team, the intervention was completed successfully, and the rhino was able to recover safely.
Moments like these highlight both the challenges and rewards of wildlife conservation. They also demonstrate the extraordinary commitment required to protect and care for Africa’s iconic species.
Saving the Survivors is 100% funded by donations. Every intervention, every helicopter flight, every veterinary procedure and every animal we help is only possible because of the generosity of our supporters around the world.
From all of us at Saving the Survivors, thank you for making this work possible.
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