After finally getting my international phone service to work, I can post more complete updates!
Today’s departure was 6:00 am, headed out to help with a rhino transport. The young bull was fighting with other males, and had been sold to another reserve, where he will start his own breeding herd. Again, locations are not posted to help prevent poaching.
It was daylight (after a spectacular deep crimson sunrise) when we arrived, but chilly enough to see our breath in the air.
Again, a drive through the bush with plenty to see along the way. We rode in the back 2 rows of a large game-viewer vehicle, which is much like a roller coaster with much better scenery.
This time, Rita (the vet) would be darting from a helicopter, allowing us to find the correct rhino, position it where the transport vehicle could reach it, and safely dart it. In addition, Andre’s capture/transport team was present, as they would be loading the rhino into a trailer and transporting him to his new home. So it was a fairly big team, and a huge number of onlookers, for today’s event.
The rhino is darted and down. We cannot allow him to lie on his legs like this for long, or they will “go to sleep” from the pressure of his 1 ton body lying on them. And we need him to get up and walk into the transport trailer—obviously lifting him as we do antelope is not an option! You can see a bit of blood on his right hip from where the dart went in—another perfect shot by Rita, right into a nice big muscle! We have to be careful not to touch the dart site, as skin contact with the strong immobilizing agent could be fatal. Fortunately, there is a reversal drug just in case, and we are very careful.
Jessica, the owner of Selati Wildlife Experience, has started her children young!
Eleanor draws blood from an ear vein for DNA and health testing. Notice that the rhino is blindfolded and has earplugs in place. This helps prevent our accidentally startling him awake.
After reversing some (not all!) of the tranquilization, the rhino got up and was led to the transport trailer.
Most of the team is at work here: Andre’, transport specialist, in front, additional rope handlers alongside, members of Andre’s team behind on a “brakes” rope tied to a hind leg, with Carli out front, Rita behind, and Gerry and the helicopter in the background.
Loading the rhino into the trailer. A smaller trailer is safer, since the rhino cannot thrash around and injured himself. Once the door was safely closed, Rita and Andre’ accessed the roof hatch and gave the rhino a sedative so he would ride quietly, and removed all ropes, blindfold, and earplugs.
Students on top of the world, with Rita and Andre’ in the foreground.
Next, off to brunch! Thanks, Jessica! Delicious food, a bit of souvenir shopping, then away to the Mango store!
Went to the mango shop, bought fruit lollies to eat and to bring back. These are fruit purée, dehydrated to a chewy texture and rolled in sugar. Also bought an enormous grapefruit fresh off the tree, and a black currant/ mango frozen yogurt. Mmmm!
Then off to the Moholoholo wildlife rehabilitation center, where we visited some of the wildlife that they have saved but that, for various reasons, cannot be released back to the wild. They rehabilitate and release most of the animals they care for.
This is a batolier, a raptor like eagles and hawks.
While the students were shopping, this guy and I spent some quality time gazing into one another’s eyes. He is about 1.5 inches long.
Students at Moholoholo rehabilitation center
Visiting the vulture enclosure. Note the white backed vulture above and behind.
More vultures
These are sibling male white lions. They have a genetic condition causing them to exhibit leucytic (pale) coloring due to lack of melanin. They are not albino, as some pigment is present; they have gorgeous greenish-hazel eyes.
The lions are here because they were unethically bred and hand-raised to be handled by tourists. They are completely used to humans, and have no fear. Their fate when they grew too big to be “cute” and safe to be mailed was to be sold for “canned hunting”. They would be placed in an enclosure and “hinted” by someone who paid big bucks to kill a trophy.
Hyena. This guy was fed outside a cafe, then decided to just go inside and serve himself. Again, he doesn’t fear humans, so is unsafe for release.
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