Race against time to treat pregnant Rhino shot in poaching attempt
STS Veterinary unit in Mozambique was called to assess a mature pregnant white Rhino cow found in the South Africa – Mozambique Border with a severe limp and a deep wound potentially caused by a firearm.
We quickly put together a rescue operation along with Sabie Game Park management and antipoaching team. The next morning after a short drive in the beautiful reserve, the animal was found and immobilized right on the international border with Kruger National Park in South Africa (the fence in the pictures is the border).
It was clear that poachers tried to kill this animal but luckily the shot was not deadly and the Rhino managed to escape. The bullet wound was deep and severely infected, so the team flushed the wound thoroughly with antiseptic solution, before administering antibiotic treatment and reversing the anaesthesia.
Unfortunately, there are no holding facilities currently in Mozambique. So, a dedicated team of anti-poaching rangers will intensively monitor the animal in the 30,0000 hectare reserve. In the next weeks we will have Dr Johan Marais in Mozambique to conduct X rays and a follow up treatment.
STS will publish an update on this case as soon as we have more information. We believe that this Rhino is pregnant, therefore, in reality we haven’t just saved one Rhino, we have saved 2.
Thank you to Sabie Game Park for your dedication to Rhino conservation in Mozambique. Follow them on Facebook here.
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