Sunday 11 March, 20h00 -
Themba has only moved about 30 meters through the day and
he has not been near water since the procedure more than 24 hours ago. This is
making us feel a little anxious and we hope that he will make it down to water
tonight. He does appear to be alert and responsive but the thicket he is in is
making meaningful observations of his leg difficult.
Thandi has been out in the open this evening and is
looking good. There was substantial rain overnight and we hope that this has
not rinsed too much of the treatment off their faces. A few hot days following
this will bring back another onslaught of flies and maggots so we will take
each day as it comes and decide when to schedule their next treatment in a day
or two.
Thanks for all of you who have started to spread the word
of this painful story. The support you have been posting through the Kariega
facebook page and via emails have been so encouraging. I know there are many
nature loving people out there who are concerned that we are putting too much
emphasis on one species, the rhino, when there are so many other deserving
species which are also endangered. This is a completely valid concern as, in
the context of global biodiversity, the rhino crisis threatens to divert
precious attention and resources away from the bigger picture. I see so many
reserves struggling to cope with the hidden costs of poaching. Even if they
haven't lost any animals, they are spending huge amounts on security now, which
is firstly not an investment, it is a spend. And secondly, no amount of money
can guarantee their safety. I know if reserves where this situation is not
sustainable and they are applying this level of protection in the hope that
something will change and shift the balance in favour of the rhino soon. In the
meantime this crisis which has become an epidemic which, in my mind, will teach
us a lot about ourselves as humanity.
The bottom line: Whether we win or loose the battle to
save the rhino will be a measure of how much we value this species and a clear
indication of our desire to protect all species in our care. Will fowlds
Sunday 11 March, 11h00 - Day 10 for Thandi and Themba. Thandi spent a lot of time
after her procedure yesterday out on the plains grazing like a healthy rhino
which is quite remarkable. The inclusion of the sedative drug in the dart which
we hope causes short-term amnesia is an interesting consideration here as her
behaviour does not match her circumstances.
Themba has only been in the open during the night thus
far and is obviously in a different psychological space to Thandi.
Today we have the invaluable assistence of tracking
bracelets on both rhino after the Chipembere Foundation sourced and donated
them to this cause. These devices are a vital part of a treatment strategy in
the wild as they allow the Kariega monitoring team to keep check of their
progress at any time of the day. The technology also indicates if the device is
stationery or moving. Without this improved monitoring capacity we will not be
able to respond quickly to changes in their circumstances.
Report from Daniel and Lance is that Themba is more alert
than in previous days. He is still in the thickets but is definately grazing.
We cannot confirm water intake today yet. Thandi is on the edge of the stream
and has been seen through the night grazing well.
Saturday 10 March 16h00 - It has been a dramatic day at Kariega. Having set out
with the possibility of loosing Themba, we ended emotionally drained but
relieved that they are both still alive. We all find it so difficult to get
used to the gruesome extent of their injuries and the senslesness behind them,
that every procedure is an emotionally jarring one for the whole team. But how can we possibly conceive what Themba
and Thandi are going through. Today we got a better understanding of the extent
of Themba's leg injuries as nine days after the poaching, the tissues that were
starved of blood are now apparent. This tells a story of nine days of hell.
Every breath and every step adding to the constant level of pain. The
resilience and bravery of these conservation icons is such a humbling thing to
witness.
Themba has a semi circle of dead skin behind his knee
where it folds when flexed. We estimate he lay on that leg for between 3 and 10
hours after his face was hacked to pieces. The underlying muscles have also
been badly affected by the same process but the good news is that these areas
still have a good blood supply and they have already forced their own draining
sinuses out through the dead skin. We have enlarged these holes to encourage
drainage and the antibiotics and pain releaving drugs will provide support from
the inside.
Both their faces are plagued by maggots which have found
their way into every possible recess in spite of treatment on day four. This is
now of major concern and will need more frequent attention at the risk of
negative side effects.
Today's procedures took place with the aid of a large
team of dedicated people. My partner, Dr Peter Brothers, helped spread the
veterinary responsibilities and I counted nine separate teams all with focused
tasks to fulfil during different stages of the procedures. This excludes the journalists and camera crews who
were there to tell the world the story of incredible bravery and a will to
survive under conditions of exceptional trauma.
I feel very privileged to have worked with such passionate people.
Today we served at the feet of giants. These two, like so
many others, have been HUMiliated by greed and mans inadequacies. Surely a creature unequalled in all of
creation deserves better than this. Will fowlds
Friday 9 March 16h00 - Thandi, the female rhino,
has not been seen today but her general whereabouts is known and she has
been mobile so we have left her alone for today. Themba, the male has spent
most of the day lying up in the same location which as a behaviour pattern
differs slightly from previous days. I fear this is an indication of increased
discomfort. He has stood up several times and changed his position which is
only mildly reassuring. Although the news of him eating and drinking overnight
is good, his overall intake does not sound like it is sufficient to sustain him
and this would need to improve over the next few days. Tomorrow we plan to work on both the rhino.
The female will have to be darted from the helicopter which can be stressful in
itself. Fortunately, we are once again in the hands of Grant Soule tomorrow who
is not only an amazing chopper pilot, but his understanding and finesse when it
comes to sheparding rhino while the anaesthetic takes effect, is a gift which I
have marvelled at for many years. This is such a critical aspect of the
procedure as excessive stress on an animal which is already compromised could
be disasterous.
The fear of what we may find tomorrow when we assess
Themba's leg is constantly at the back of our minds. We have put an enormous
amount of preparation into the procedures tomorrow so that we can be at our
best for them. It is quite possible that we may have to consider the
unthinkable, and I know this would be a devastating loss after so much
anguish. But for now we focus on being
positive and would ask that you do the same.
Thank you all for so many emails and comments directed at the entire
Kariega team and all they are doing for these courageous and precious
animals.Will fowlds
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