Marty the Zebra has a nasty snare injury
The STS team in South Africa are assisting with a Zebra stallion on a reserve in Limpopo.
The reserve staff noticed Marty the stallion is limping severely on his right hindlimb and suspect a snare injury is the cause.
Snares are a real and present danger in reserves across Africa today. The majority of the cases Dr Johan and the STS team work on are related to poaching. This includes injuries which occur from snares and gin traps.
A typical snare is no more than a length of wire with a looped end formed by a slipknot. They are aimed to trap animals which are then used for bushmeat or sold to markets. Snares indiscriminately catch animals, meaning all wildlife are in danger. Once the animal is trapped, the wire tightens as they try to free themselves. This cuts the animal where they have been trapped, and causes strangulation if around their necks.
As Dr Johan and his assistant Dorota travel to the area and closely inspect the Zebra using binoculars, they notice a snare is clearly evident on the Zebra’s hindlimb. The Zebra is immobile, with a cable snare cutting deep into his tissue.
Dr Johan and Dorota remove the snare, freeing the Zebra. They then tend to the wound, washing it and treating it with antibiotics and L-Mesitran Wound Care medical grade Honey.
The Zebra awoke and immediately signs of improvement of the limp are clear.
The very next day, the Zebra is up and walking, taking full weight on his leg.
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