Team STS Save Rhino Poaching Survivor
Today has been a challenging and distressing day for Dr. Johan and the STS team in South Africa.
We were called to assist two Rhino females who were sadly shot by poachers. One butchered and the horns removed. Her younger companion luckily got away, becoming a poaching survivor. However she sustained a gun shot to the front of the chest.
STS were arrive to the gruesome setting early on Friday morning, here we met the attending veterinarian. It was apparent that the two female Rhinos were shot during the night. The poachers got away with the horn of the bigger female, who sadly succumbed to her injuries.
Dr. Johan immobilised the other younger female Rhino, cleaned the wound and treated her with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. We also attempted to take x-rays to see if we can locate the bullet. Only an entry wound in front of the left shoulder was found. This wound was quite deep, and had a downwards trajectory. Unfortunately, there was too much swelling.
Due to the injuries she sustained, her breathing was laboured. This meant we did not want to keep her under immobilisation for long. The entire procedure only took 30 minutes. We hope to get the infection under control initially, and will follow-up in the coming weeks.
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