Continuing care for a Rhino Poaching Survivor
Dr. Johan followed up on the healing of this Southern White Rhino poaching survivor.
Although the wound has healed substantially, it appears that the Oxpecker birds are keeping the wound open and preventing it from healing fully. It was therefore decided to treat the wound with medical grade honey and cover it with leather, using strong suture material in the skin and one orthopaedic screw into a piece of remaining horn. This will hopefully keep the Oxpeckers at bay for a while.
Oxpecker birds are usually welcomed by large mammals, they have a truly symbiotic relationship. The Oxpeckers get to feast on the many bugs and insects that live on and around the large beast. This is in return for the hosts own personal grooming attendant and bug remover. This includes tick, lice and anything else that would usually infest it’s hide or fur. Sadly in this instance, the birds have hindered the healing process. But, by covering the wound inflicted by the poachers, Dr. Johan has hopefully given the poaching survivor the protection it needs to repair.
Thank you to all our supporters, especially Arandu, Riverpoint Medical and Salvari for their collaboration in this project. And as always, Craghoppers and Ford for our essential Kit and 4×4’s.
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