Kariega Rhino Update - Thursday 8 March, 09h00

Themba (the male)has been found alive this morning so I am on my way to assess his condition and plan to top up his anti-inflammatories. We will report back later in the day on his status. The Kariega team are doing a great job in keeping watch over them without harassing them. A critical component of our care plan is to try and balance maximum possible treatment with minimum possible stress. Our decision not to move them to a boma for closer observation was made in an effort to keep their understandable stress levels to a minimum. This strategy is very resource intensive as staff have to spend many long hours of the day tracking and monitoring and we need a helicopter to fly to the reserve to assist with every treatment. But we are convinced that given the severe nature of the trauma, and other considerations, a captive treatment strategy would push them over the edge. The dedication and passion of the team is tangible as they explore ways of doing more to help. The ranger group have initiated their own fund raising initiatives and the local community at Kenton are rallying to assist in their plight. Many of the staff have known these animals from birth and are deeply moved by their struggle. Daniel came to me after the last treatment session with tears in his eyes to thank me for what I am doing for their animals. Having been through a similar experience a year ago with an animal I knew, I feel so much for what they are going through. Will fowlds

Kariega Rhino Update - Wednesday 7 March 20h00

News of Thandi (the female) is that she appeared from the thickets this evening and is grazing and exhibiting what, from a distance, appears to be normal rhino behaviour. I have such admiration for this incredibly brave soul. Having had my fingers buried in her facial wounds down to my knuckles, I find it hard to believe that she can be walking around, alert and responsive to her surroundings. The fact that she appears to be doing so well should mean that in the next two or three days we can start on the next phase of her treatment which is going to be traumatic in itself. She has a shelf of bone (panga slash)about 15mm thick and 100mm wide still partially attached by connective tissue that I don't think will survive and may have to be removed with a saw down to viable bone. We are also going to have to put her through what many 3rd degree burn victims have to endure which is a process of debriding whereby dead and dying cells need to be scrubbed off under anaesthetic so that a clean bed of healing tissue can get established. Sadly this may have to be repeated several times. As bad as it sounds, nothing she still has to get through can compare with what she has already conquered. The road ahead is long and threatened by complications such as infection but if her fighting spirit over these first six days is an indication of her inner strength, we have a good chance of seeing her through.

Themba has been in hiding today and the monitoring team were not able to get a visual confirmation of his status. We were not planning treatment today so haven't push hard to find him. His behaviour in contrast to Thandi is very much one of a rhino in distress. Tomorrow (day 7) is very much a make or break day for him in my mind. Will fowlds   

Kariega Rhino Update - Wednesday 7 March 10h00

Mike reports that there is no news yet of the female as the monitoring team are still tracking her. There appear to be some positive signs in that the bulls tracks indicate he is eating and drinking. We hope to get definite confirmation of this later today as he is back in the thickets and has not actually been seen. This means that we can't update on progress regarding his leg yet.
As we get to grips with their daily routine we will start processing the despicable visual material that has been collected thus far to include in the postings. I would like to plead with you all to prepare yourselves to help distribute these horrific images around the world so that the story of these brave and magnificent individuals can help STOP the suffering of others in the future. We have been shocked by a night which has left one rhino dead, another who may not make it through the complications and a third who we are hoping and praying will recover. Surely the full spectrum of the worst suffering that the evils of poaching are able to bring down on us HAS to shock us out of complacency and into action which delivers measurable results. You can help stop the killing. Let's all get ready to raise our game. Will fowlds

Kariega Rhino update - Tuesday 6 March @ 19h00.

The weather has been mild today which is good for both rhino. The female has not revealed herself and the monitoring team lead by Lance and Jason have not bothered her today.

The bull is still moving around in the fringes of the thicket and has not been seen grazing which is of concern. The leg swelling is slightly improved and he is still placing his leg well but we can't confirm any definite weight bearing on the damaged leg. The distance and topography of the ground he has covered has surprised us moving up quite steep slopes along the way. He is alert and although he let's us get quite close, he is also prepared to mock charge when he feels threatened. We have repeated the anti-inflammatory today to keep him as comfortable as possible (using drop-out darts) and the team will watch him tonight from a distance in the hope that we can confirm if he is eating or not. He has moved too far away from the original wallow and won't take water from the baths that have been put out. There is a water hole a few hundred meters away and he is familiar with his surroundings so pray he takes water soon. His face is clean with some serous oozing. His right eye is still clouded over which is limiting vision on that side.
While Mike and I crouched 7 meters from him in a small opening in the valley thicket for more than 10 minutes I couldn't help feeling that this animal understands something about what we are trying to do for him. How can we possibly comprehend how confused he must be. Its times like these that remind me how little we understand about them. There is a side to rhino that's as soft as the mewing call they make. I used to think that it didn't match the animal but as time passes I am starting to think that its more than likely spot-on. Will fowlds

Kariega Rhino update Tuesday 6 March 09h00

 The kariega bull has moved a significant distance of several kilometers down difficult terrain during the night and is now close to an area of good grazing and water so we wait to see evidence of feeding. These are small positive signs which at the very least indicate that yesterdays treatment is making him more comfortable. I want to commend the owners of Kariega for throwing their full support behind the professional decisions I wrestle with every day. That both animals are still alive is hardly a consolation as the responsibility of sustaining so much pain rests very heavily on my shoulders. It is difficult to justify life in the face of such trauma but Kariega has made it very clear that they will support whatever veterinary decisions I make and they have not withheld anything. At 2am this morning my thoughts could be condensed into one line. A small flame of hope draws us forwards into another shameful day of suffering at the hands of humanity. Will fowlds

Kariega Rhino update - Monday 5 March at 20h00

Both Kariega animals appear to have come through todays procedures without showing any visable negative side effects. The bull appears slightly more comfortable in the way that he is lying and has moved off about 40 meters into the thicket at the edge of the grassland. The female is hiding up in a bush clump but looked stable when last seen.
The very thought of what we have witnessed today brings tears to my eyes again. Its been an emotionally wrenching day for everyone. One I hope we don't have to go through again. The kariega team have been amazing. The drip teams, the treatment team, the ground team the camera teams and all those who helped fetch, packed, clean, attached tracking devices, assist with DNA sampling, water and blood work, all contributed to well managed procedures.
Thank you to all those who have flooded us with messages of encouragement and offers of support. You are such an important part of the extended team effort that is required to give these animals the best chance we can offer. Will fowlds ------

Survivng female Rhino poached on 2 March 2012....drinking at waterhole on Sunday 4 March 2012

Survivng female Rhino poached on 2 March 2012....drinking at waterhole on Sunday 4 March 2012