Realistically, it is very difficult to make wild animals perform to camera and to entice them to arrive in the right place at the right time. Pre-recorded film, used to bulk out Planet Earth Live, is a common method used in other wildlife programmes including another BBC favourite, Springwatch.

The BBC is rightly renowned for its quality wildlife programmes and has brought amazing knowledge and images into our lives through its well-researched and painstakingly filmed series. These programmes take years to make, with multiple crews searching the globe for stories, and spending months getting ‘just the right shot’. The results are always outstanding, and as viewers we find ourselves catching our breath watching killer whales encircling a seal on an ice floe, or the amazing wildebeest migration crashing across a river filled with hungry crocs.

Besides giving us a thrill, these programmes also raise awareness of the need for wildlife conservation. In the first Planet Earth Live, Richard Hammond helped attach a tracking device to an elephant in an anti-poaching measure, raising awareness to the whole issue of poaching for ivory. This can only be a good thing!

You don’t have to work for the BBC to get a taste of wildlife filming and help bring animal conservation to the fore. Worldwide Experience offers the chance to join a Wildlife Filming Academy in Botswana that gives hands on filming experience in a stunning location, helps improve filming techniques and suggests tips on getting ideas accepted and programmes commissioned.

By participating in the Academy’s programme, you could just find yourself getting that perfect shot of a cheetah cub, a galloping giraffe or a buffalo that’s in focus! And, at the same time, you will be having a positive impact on animal conservation in Africa.

We are told that the exhibit is like the diary of a traveller, documenting botanical and cultural attractions across the country. Inspiration has been taken from both nature and the cultural diversity of the South African people, giving glimpses into the land itself. Visitors are taken on ‘journey’ through changing botanical and cultural landscapes using watercolour paintings of picturesque locations to set the scene and the flora of the various biomes being brought to life in the accompanying landscape displays.

In previous years, the exhibit has inspired many visitors to think about taking a trip to South Africa and this year’s entry will undoubtedly do the same. Some may also consider volunteering to work on a conservation programme in South Africa that helps to protect and maintain the native flora.

Such programmes may include removing alien vegetation, planting indigenous trees and helping to lessen soil erosion, and are also likely to involve working with communities. And, of course, working on a conservation programme in Africa is almost guaranteed to include contact with wild animals.

World Wide Experience’s photography programme in Thanda in South Africa, for example, offers volunteers the best of all worlds, with nature conservation, education in the community and wildlife experiences all included.

If you get the chance to visit Chelsea Flower Show don’t forget to see the South African exhibit for yourself – you, too, may be inspired to think about conservation work in this colourful and vibrant country.

For more information on the Chelsea Flower Show visit http://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/2012

Travellers who volunteer to travel overseas to work in conservation or community projects manage to achieve all three of these ideals! Travel for the sake of travel could potentially be seen as selfish but travel that involves some kind of work with animals or communities abroad, in places like Africa, is most likely to give the traveller a new perspective on life.

Here are some of our favourite travel quotes culled from around the globe, that reflect opinions on travel and that may inspire those just ‘thinking about it’ to consider looking at the opportunities, starting with the prophet himself.

Mohammed: “Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you travelled.”

Alan Keightley: “Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.”

Nikos Kazantzakis: “Every perfect traveller always creates the country where he travels.”

Fitzhugh Mullan: “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.”

Blaise Pascal: “Our Nature lies in movement; complete calm is death.”

Frank Herbert: “Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.”

Rumi: “When you are everywhere, you are nowhere, when you are somewhere, you are everywhere.”

Kurt Vonnegut: “Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God.”

William Least Heat Moon: “The open road is a beckoning, a strangeness, a place where a man can lose himself.”

Margaret Mead : “As the traveller who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.”

Mary Anne Radmacher Hershey: “I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”

And we leave the final word with American poet Susan Sontag:

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” 

By the way…watch this space for NEW great travel offers starting tomorrow on this very website – plus we’ve got something extraordinarily exciting and totally unique to share with you…

As many of you will already know, on the 2nd of March Kariega Game Reserve was subjected to a vicious rhino poaching attack. One male rhino died on the scene, and the two surviving rhinos sustained horrific injuries. Themba and Thandi, as they were later named, were 3 and 6 years respectively. While Thandi (meaning ‘courage’) has improved with each weeks treatment, Themba (meaning ‘hope’) hovered between good and bad as a borderline case before dying on the 25th March.

Themba had more internal damage than Thandi, due to the position in which he was lying during the attack. His face was not the underlying cause in his death, but rather tissue damage and infection in his leg injury. Data gathered both during and after his 22 day fight for survival will be valuable to any future poaching survivors, as we now have a better understanding as to what may be happening under the 2cm thick skin, which makes visible clues difficult to see.

The post mortem confirmed that his injuries were in fact a lot worse than even the vet had imagined, but the valuable information gained during his ordeal ensures that his painful daily struggle was not in vain. Thandi’s face continues to heal and her behaviour is returning to normal, showing slow but steady psychological and physical recovery.

The volunteers jobs during rhino treatments varied from setting up drip bags, re-filling antibiotics syringes, handing the vet surgical equipment, cleaning instruments, keeping track of the animals breathing rate, recording body temperature, and anything else that was helpful and needed.

Between all the bitter-sweetness of treating the rhino’s, there was still work to be done around the reserve. Two porcupines that were causing chaos in a vegetable garden, where trapped in cages and relocated to another part of the reserve. The Kariega volunteers also helped dart and load three sub-adult lions, who were being sold to a near-by breeding program. They were 2 males and 1 female which were being kicked out of the pride, and due to the limited range available to them they were sustaining injuries from the existing adult male lions. Therefore Kariega Game Reserve decided it was best to make alternative arrangements for them. In the wild, male lions of this age would naturally move out of the pride to forge their own territories.

We have also been taking advantage of the rainy weather and soft soil of late to plant some small trees around the reserve. This is in the hope of increasing our carrying capacity, and especially focussing on areas which had previously been alien invaded or suffered from soil erosion. The two species which we have been planting is Common Cabbage trees, which we propagated from seed, and Spekboom (or porkbush) a succulent that we plant cuttings of.

A few of the volunteers took advantage of the exciting weekend activities that are on offer in the surrounding areas. On 9th March three of our more adventurous Kariega Volunteers went sky diving in Grahamstown! We all had fun watching their DVD’s afterwards and seeing all the different expressions on their faces during their drop to earth. Other weekend activities included horse riding on the beach, and an exciting day to the Bathurst Agriculture Show. The Bathurst show takes place annually in one of our neighbouring towns and is a festive event filled with fun rides, flee markets, music, animal shows and the ever popular beer tent. It was nice for the volunteers to see what our local entertainment scene had to offer.

Hopefully during the month ahead we will have many more great animal sightings and exciting adventures, and most importantly that Thandi, the rhino, continues to go from strength to strength. For more information and regular updates on her progress join the Kariega Game Reserve facebook page.

Hope to meet you as a Kariega volunteer soon!

[Please note: Dates for this course have been confirmed as 29/07/2013 to 12/08/2013. There will also need to be a minimum of 10 people on the course for it to go ahead]

Shamwari have hosted grounded operations and experiences for the youth travel sector for a period that spans over the past eight years. We specialise in conservation, with a focus on ecology, wildlife, and environmental education with local community and sporting interactions as part of our social responsibility drive. The programme is as safe as it is exciting as we move about in homologated game viewing vehicles only using suitably qualified guiding and conservation staff. We operate in a malaria free zone and are one hour away from the closest major airport, medical facilities and other amenities in Port Elizabeth.

Conserving a vanishing way of life…

• World’s Leading Safari and Game Reserve and the World’s Leading Conservation Company since 1998
• Environmental Award from American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)
• Traveller’s Choice 2008 from Trip Advisor
• One of the largest private game reserves in the Eastern Cape and one of the largest private conservation initiatives in Southern Africa
• Largest concentration of wildlife in the Eastern and Southern Cape
• 5 of South Africa’s 7 biomes occur on Shamwari Game Reserve
• Dedicated Wildlife Department (including qualified wildlife veterinarians, ecologist and environmentalist) boasting a breeding centre, a rehabilitation centre, an animal hospital, an education centre and an anti-poaching unit.
• Natural extension of the famous Garden Route

Book your placement now for Summer 2013 to avoid disappointment.

Call our friendly sales team today on +44 (0) 1483 860560 or email kathryn@worldwideexperience.com

Make your mark with Vet Eco Safari Experience

Career break

ORCA Marine Foundation

Nature Guides

Sri Lanka

Endangered Species

Rhinos

Volunteering

Africa

Thanda

Involvement

Overseas

No excuses!

Career break experiences are ideal for anyone who wants to face something a bit different, something challenging -something that could help them develop as a person.

ORCA Marine Foundation offers a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to take part in exciting ocean research programmes.

Nature guides learn skills through game drives, bush walks and sleeping out on the Amakhala Game Reserve.

Sri Lanka is home to research projects for elephants and leopards – vital to the protection and continuation of these amazing animals.

Endangered species – the list is getting longer every year and it’s up to us to step in and help to ensure that these animals get a fighting chance.

Rhinos are on our minds with the devastating poaching that is happening every day.

Volunteering to work with animals and communities gives you the chance to make a difference in a country not so fortunate as the one that you live in.

Africa needs us to lend a helping hand to communities, animal and plant life.

Involvement in the future of our planet means that you are being proactive, that you’re not just sitting back and letting things happen to you.

Overseas is a good place to be on your gap year.

No excuses for doing nothing – if you can, then you should!

Students from across the globe are provided the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in

• Conservation management activities
• Research projects
• Community development projects

During your experience, your knowledge of nature conservation and African wildlife will be greatly enhanced through your dedicated programme co-ordinators, and you will leave with a stronger understanding of conservation issues, and the knowledge that you have made a real contribution to nature conservation and local communities in Africa.

“I’m so excited to be associated with the Conservation & Community programme at the Stanley and Livingstone Hotel on the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve. Students from all over the world will have the opportunity to get involved with community upliftment projects, and conservation activities such as elephant monitoring, black rhino protection & monitoring, predator monitoring, alien vegetation removal, freshwater ecosystem analyses, environmental awareness, sleepouts in the African bush, raptor conservation, and so much more! “

- - Taryn Ingram-Gillson, BSc Hons Zoology, March 2012

Make your mark at the Victoria Falls

These are copies of the the actual emails sent from Kariega by Will Fowlds…

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Tues 20th March 7pm
Sent: Mar 20, 2012 7:28 PM

Day 19 and today we worked with Themba without catching sight of Thandi. We spent a long time with him assessing if there was any way we could avoid another anaesthetic. He appeared a little more lethargic to me and his leg is still giving him a lot of discomfort. Jason reported some lumps of pussy fluid every time he lay down and I wasn’t sure which hole it was coming from. On the strength of his previous blood results which showed that his kidneys were in better shape than I had thought, I made the decision to go ahead with another procedure. We were joined by Dr Lamont today which was an honour for me as he has had more experience in the reconstruction of traumatised tissues than ten of me would ever get to see in a lifetime.

As before the Kariega team of staff and volunteers swung into action and provided amazing, focused and dedicated work on a rhino which I know they would go to the ends of the earth for. The two worrying aspects from his blood results are the escalation of chemicals released by damaged liver and muscle cells. This was expected and we will only know the real significance of these values if today’s blood results show an improvement or not. To assist with this aspect of his care I have asked for the advice of Prof Reyers an expert veterinary clinical haematologist who has also offered to lend his expertise to this process.

Themba coped better with his anaesthetic today than the previous time. His face is visibly improved and for the first time there were no maggots to be seen and there was very little necrotic tissue build up in his exposed nasal sinuses. The worrying news is that we are now seeing the full extent of his lack of blood on the night of the poaching and large areas of tissue have broken down and become infected. He has a hole on the inside of his shin that I can get my hand into and the middle third of his tibia can be felt through this hole. This cavity extends down to just short of his hock joint.

The only way this infected tissue is able to escape is when he lies on his right side, so most of the time it has been sitting inside this cavity when we need it to leave the body. I was forced to make a drainage hole on the inside of his hock joint at the lowest point of the cavity through skin an
inch thick and in the process I have disrupted some arterial supply which I will need to watched carefully. The process which is taking place now inside his leg we sometime refer to as abcessation. In this case we are talking about multiple cavities some of which interlead.

The most important thing we can do for him now is to ensure that all dead tissues inside his leg have a chance to drain out and we need to ensure that the infection in the dead tissue does not get into the living tissues and cause more damage. We have sent a sample away for culture and to test is if the anti-biotic we are using will be able to kill these bacteria. He woke up fine from the drugs and managed to take a small amount of weight on this leg in his sedated state before we left him. It is always such a relief to see him stand up and I know that for the next few days he will feel more comfortable.

In spite of the awful amount of damage to this leg, his body is visibly trying to make things right. My thanks to Dr Lamont who is now comprehensively on board and will begin his own process of research and forward planning in the hope that we can restore their facial injuries to some level of dignity. The support for these two rhino is growing even more daily and we are so humbled by the efforts and contributions of so many people. It is difficult to predict what tomorrow will bring. For today, Themba is not another statistic and for this we are so so grateful!

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Wed 21st March 7pm
Sent: Mar 21, 2012 7:44 PM

News from the Kariega team today is that Themba has moved over four hundred meters he has drunk well but is not eating as well as we had hoped. Levels of concern fluctuate between medium to high. This morning he hadn’t moved much and seemed to have taken his session yesterday quite badly but this afternoon he seems a little improved. Some fluid has come from the drainage holes in his leg overnight.

Comments from Prof Reyers warn of the possibility of liver infection. We are not in a position to be able to do a liver scan or other diagnostic tests to confirm what could be happening in his liver but we do know that his injuries are placing this organ under a lot of strain. Intensifying his anti-biotic treatment would require even more regular immobilisations than we are currently risking as we don’t have other long acting treatment options to move onto.

Thandi is moving around well but is hiding up in the thickets and we have not been able to get images of her face for several days. The tracking teams are reporting a slight smell which may also indicate that infection is building up in her facial wounds. It’s been 6 days since her last treatment and I was hoping to be able to extend her treatment intervals after the previous assessment. Once we can get more visual information regarding her face, we will make a decision re her.

Today Paul Mills, who has given an enormous amount of his time and expertise to this process, has posted the video footage of Thandi’s treatment session on day 4. Reviewing these images and reliving some of those emotions is heart wrenching all over again. My mind seems to have chosen to forget how many loose pieces of skin and hanging bone we had to remove from her face and how deep and random the gashes were. All that precious tissue that now needs rebuilding is absolutely useless to poachers anyway. In fact it is probably a risk for them as it needs to be disposed of somewhere before the horn gets passed onto the next criminal in the greed chain. Such is the degree of lust for this horn that they will not risk leaving the smallest fragment of it behind and so they butcher extra inches of living, feeling flesh away in carrying out their monstrous deeds.

What will you and I do today to help stop this cruel onslaught? What weapons do we have to fight this war? Today, the whole team of dedicated, caring, rhino passionate people give you the undeniable truth of visual images that transcend language and culture. How effective this weapon is depends on how far and wide you are prepared to spread it. While we struggle to bring an end to their suffering, we ask that you keep these images alive in the eyes of the world because today at least one other rhino went through this hell and tomorrow there will probably be more.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Thurs 22nd March 9pm
Sent: Mar 23, 2012 6:44 AM

Visual sightings of Thandi confirm that she is eating and moving around normally. We still do not have good images of her face so difficult to be sure of her condition but I am comfortable that we can maintain low levels of concern for her. Themba on the other hand has not been moving around very much. He remains close to a large water hole and has been eating although not as much as he was 3 days ago. He has spent some time with his leg in the muddy water and knowing how many open spaces there are in his bad leg, I shudder to think what has gone into that leg.

In my experience of other wild animals it is quite common for them to bathe in muddy water without any apparent concern for wound contamination. From a medical perspective this makes me cringe but I have witnessed some surprising recoveries so it may not be as bad as what we perceive. After being very proud of a surgical procedure I did once on an elephant’s eye and the degree of care we had taken to work under sterile conditions, I had a report the next day to say that he was standing in the water hole scooping up mud with his trunk and rubbing it into his bad eye! That elephant whose eye I considered removing, recovered so well that a year later I couldn’t tell which eye I had operated on.

My levels of concern for Themba today are high. The results of his blood tests will only be available in another day or two for comparison with previous tests. These will be very important is assessing his chances especially if his levels of activity, eating and drinking behaviour have not improved by the end of tomorrow. As always, we have been overwhelmed by your messages of encouragement which mean to much to me and I know the whole team at Kariega are sustained by your words and your efforts to help Themba and Thandi. I wish I could show these rhino how many people right across the world are willing them to get well, it would take a stadium to fit us all in. Your actions in spreading the word of their plight it starting to ripple across the planet. I know that there are already students in China who have been exposed to the video footage and are as appalled as we are.

This is such encouraging news as the one aspect of the rhino fight we have been bad at has been reaching into the user countries. Please don’t underestimate the power of these images in your hands and what they can achieve in our quest to protect all rhino.

As the decision makers in global conservation plan to meet again to discuss what can be done to reduce the killing, we need to keep driving hard at the most fundamental layers of this war namely welfare, awareness and education. The owners of Kariega gave me two directives at the start of this process, firstly to do whatever I thought best for Themba and Thandi and secondly, regardless of the outcome of either of them, to ensure that this process would be to the benefit of all remaining rhino. Kariega have been amazing in making all treatment and images freely available for use across the world.

Themba and Thandi have been even more amazing in showing us their determination to live. What we learn about these horrific wounds will certainly change the way we approach future cases such as this and with your help improve the chances of many other rhino in the future. Often it takes a crisis in life before we appreciate the things that are important to us. Will this rhino crisis teach us what’s of value in the world? Will we show ourselves that even though we face great odds, we will fight our way through this crisis, and be stronger when we face the next one? Your response shows me that there are enough of us to beat the criminals. Let’s show them that enough IS enough.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Fri 23rd March 8pm
Sent: Mar 23, 2012 9:57 PM

The weather on the way to Kariega today couldn’t have been more reflective of the atmosphere concerning the rhino in that place. Sharp rays of bright sunshine pushing through the gloomy dark clouds that came rolling in off the sea nearby. News of Thandi is consistently promising as she spends much of her time with the mother and calf she knows well. Photographic evidence of her facial status has been difficult to come by but her behaviour gives no indication of the need for additional concern. There is no doubt that all these animals whether poached or not, have been traumatised by the ordeal as they are not their relaxed selves and keep to the thickets fringes for most of the day.

Jason has been reporting on Themba’s progress over the past 2 days when I was not able to be there in person. There has been a very gradual but noticeable decline in his condition since his last procedure. His levels of alertness are not what they were 4 days ago and he has lost more weight. His leg from the outside appears to be the same but we know that the problems lie within and these are very difficult to gauge. His use of the injured leg remains the same and if his proximity to the water hole is anything to go by, he is more uncomfortable than before as he hasn’t moved more than 100 meters from the water.

For the first time his dung was a bit loose today and this is a worrying sign. I was relying on getting blood results today. These were going to be quite crucial in my understanding of his condition leading into the previous procedure, and possibly why he appears to have lost momentum since then. Delays in the courier service have cost us another day and they may well be quite academic by the time we get them. Very frustrating. So my concern for Themba is now definitely high. Jason reports that he has eaten better since I left his side in the early afternoon but I know his body cannot take too many more of these low days. He still gave me a few mock charges when approached but his response distance is now much closer than before and he only takes a few shorts steps. I don’t think it is simply because he is getting used to us being there either.

I have wrestled with decisions about Themba for 22 days and every day, including today, he has been true to his name by giving us enough hope to keep going with the treatment process. He has had his good days and bad days along the way and I know the longer he fights to survive under these conditions the more run down his system becomes. I constantly check my emotional bond with him and need to be sure that my professional mind is not clouded by the emotions that threaten to overwhelm me as I write these reports every evening.

One thing I know is that when I am working with him, my actions are brutally cold and clinical and it is only when I am driving away from that beautiful, tortured place that I am overcome with such respect, admiration and compassion for these shamed and helpless creatures. Every day I hear of the compassion of so many people for their struggle to survive and it makes no logical sense to me that this tragedy continues to slam down on our rhino when so many people care. Today I gave a talk at a junior school and used the scene from Jurassic Park 1, that first game drive, to illustrate what young children could be missing out on one day. The look on children’s faces in awe of what once was, confirms that what we have left is priceless. There can be no value placed on these and so many other species. As much as we value our lives, we will be poor without them.

Today has been a tough day for Themba and unless the sun shines on his circumstances tomorrow, I may be faced with the toughest decisions yet… We still have some high risk options we can use on him, but Themba’s life, like the lives of all rhino hangs in the balance of man’s will.

Kariega update Sat 24th March 5pm

I went to Kariega today convinced that I was going to have to put Themba to sleep. The first report for the day, was not good, as he didn’t start today off very alert. Yesterday’s situation combined with this news added up to only one thing. So with much trepidation I approached the reserve knowing that unless his circumstances changed my mind, euthanasia was not going to be avoided. By the time I had got there he had perked up and seemed no different to what he had been for the past 4 days. He passed more loose dung overnight which is not good but he did do a bit of grazing during the two hours of deliberation I spent with him.

The lab finally received the blood samples from 4 days back and they ran them onto their analysers immediately and let me know straight away, which was such a help. I consulted with Prof Reyers who has been assisting with the interpretation of the blood tests and of so much benefit when there are elements of doubt creeping into this case. Clinically he has deteriorated since these samples were taken so any sign of a marked deterioration in the major indicators, compared to the week before that, would have confirmed the worst for me.

Surprisingly, although many indicators are still very worrying, there were signs of some improvement in his liver circumstances, his kidneys showed a very mild deterioration but these were only fractionally over normal limits before. His indicators of inflammation do show a shift some up and some down but there was still regeneration of these cells indicating that his bone marrow was still functioning. The most concerning indicators were that his protein levels have been dropping and there are indicators of dehydration although mild. The conclusion was that there are not indicators of major system collapse or organ failure. Four days old, but positive.

I then approached Themba on foot to gauge his levels of alertness and went in very close on purpose to force him to use his leg. His temperament is still encouraging in that he is responsive and while I was close to him he took a few mouthfuls of food. The use of his leg remains the same as he can
hardly take any weight on it. The discharge from his leg has improved mildly over the past 2 days and is bloodier than before. With this information I decided to immobilise him with a very low dose of anaesthetic. The final barrier for me was to do a quick evaluation of his leg which, to my great relief, hadn’t got any worse since I was last in there. The decision to delay his euthanasia was made. We kept him down just long enough to give him a full spectrum of injections before waking him up. He recovered well and has taken a few mouthfuls of food since.

This is such a tough call to make and I am sure that many will question my judgement given 23 days of struggle for him. I am comfortable that full consideration to all circumstances have taken us this far and consultation with other veterinary experts has given some guidance from outside of his case. Should I have to go back on this decision and put him down tomorrow or later, we will all look back and know that I have made the wrong call. For now, without the benefit of that hindsight, he lives to fight another day.

It is with a huge sense of grief that we regret to inform you of the passing of Themba this Sunday morning. In his compromised state he failed to remove himself from a waterhole he had been drinking at. In spite of efforts to assist him he passed away just after 9am. The whole Kariega team is devastated by this loss after such a dedicated effort to save his life. Our heartfelt appreciation to all those that have extended their support over the past 3 weeks. We will miss him dearly and re-commit ourselves to keeping his legacy alive in an effort to spare all rhino from suffering the same fate.

Sent: 27 March 2012 10:03
Subject: Kariega update Monday 26 March 11pm

Themba’s passing has been desperately tragic and I know that everyone at Kariega is hurting badly having been so intimately involved in his personal struggle to survive. Having deliberated so much about putting him to sleep the day before, his inability to get himself out of the waterhole was a clear indication that he had grown too weak to manage even the simple things he was used to doing.

As I said on day 23 the benefit of hindsight would be the judge of my decisions and now that all information has been revealed, I have to concede that I made the wrong call two days ago. This is my burden and mine alone.

From the start of this campaign to save these animals we have been determined to ensure that whatever the outcome, I would consult with as many people as possible, give whatever treatment we thought was necessary and ensure that whatever we learned from Themba and Thandi would be used to improve the chances of future survivors. To be true to this promise, under very difficult circumstances, I conducted a post mortem on him with the aid of some of the Kariega team who have been close to him.

What I found hidden under his thick protective skin, has extended my admiration for him even further. The evidence of that first night of assault and what his body endured as he lay there, weakened by pain, loss of blood and the poacher’s drugs, was astounding. It could never be ascertained how long he has been in that position against his left side with his back leg under the weight of his body, so we never knew the exact extent of his injuries. Our normal options to x-ray or scan his body, as we would a smaller animal or pet, simply were not available to us given the size of him. We did our best to use conventional tests on bloods cells and serum to try and get an indication of the extent and progress of conditions not visible from the outside. But the harsh truth of it all is that Themba’s injuries we far more extensive and far more severe than any of these indicators were able to tell us.

Not only was his bad leg severely damaged by the absence of life giving blood on that first night, he also had extensive damage to the muscles down the left side of his rib cage (intercostals) as well as muscle damage into his left front leg (pectoral muscle groups). The fact that he was able to move as well as he did in the front part of his body is a testimony to the resilience of this rhino. What the post mortem has revealed is that he would never have regained adequate use of his leg and in my mind, with this information now at hand; I now know that his passing was a blessing.
We buried him where he lay and as the ground proudly accepted him back, he took with him the tension that had become a part of that beautiful valley for the past 24 days.

This ordeal he has endured, set in motion by the senseless greed of men who know nothing of their suffering and probably don’t care, this fight which has revealed to us a will to survive beyond our previous comprehension, this tragedy which has captured the hearts of so many; what will his story teach us? What will Themba’s legacy be?

Does that will to survive not tell us the story of his ancestors, who survived when hundreds of thousands of others didn’t? Does his ability to hide such extensive injuries not tell us of a species who have been through the worst of what man and nature could throw at them and made it? Is his story not entwined with other stories that tell of the good side of man, which show that when we do care enough, we do have the ability to bring species like this back from the brink? Themba fought with such bravery to overcome that which the poachers stole from him. Kariega stood with him and gave him the best chance that they could offer him. Many others poured their time and assistance in helping us be the best we could be for him, and still we failed. Still I failed.

The past day’s events have taken me to the lowest point of my battle to help save a species. I know many others feel the same. What we do now is the true test of our resolve to overcome the evil that threatens to overwhelm the worlds remaining rhino. Our ability to act, to actually do something to make a difference, will be the measure of who we are.

On Day 14 I wrote, “Themba and Thandi, surrounded by all we value in nature, live on as icons of animal suffering and the determination to survive. They stand guard at the gate, one strong and one weak, that will lead to the demise of thousands more species because of our apathy. They are adopted, as champions of a cause which goes far beyond “Saving the Rhino” because if we don’t save the Rhino, who move us to this extent, what hope do we have of saving the rest.”

Even though Themba’s life is ended, he has moved us and his legacy lives on. From now on we focus all our treatment efforts on Thandi, even more determined to keep searching for ways to do better for rhino than what we currently can. The legacy of Themba, and all he has taught us, remains at the gate, with Thandi, reminding us of our shortcomings, motivating us to do more, so much more. My promise to him was that I will do everything that I possibly can to make every single day that he suffered count.

I gave two talks to schools today one at Kingwood College and one at St Andrews Prep. Over 600 school children who face the very real possibility of their adult lives devoid of rhino. These young lives are hungry to help save this species and what a powerful force they could be. After the second talk the boys of St Andrews Prep placed out almost 900 crosses along the side of the busy road which passes the school. Each cross representing a rhino killed by poachers since the beginning of 2010. Themba, who has carried the heaviest of crosses, is represented there with so many others in the killing fields, a symbol of our shame, an icon of their struggle, an ambassador who now has the freedom to take their story around the world…with your help.

Now watch the video

Our thanks to Paul Mills for the image stills.

As Dr. Fowlds says here, “With official figures on poached rhino during 2012 (up to 16th March) now listed as 135 animals I find it soul destroying to think that since the night of poaching of the Kariega three, we have lost 45 more rhino. This is now an average of three per day. In other words, the horrors of what we found on that morning of hell on the 2nd of March, has happened every day since then to rhino across our country.  In spite of more cries of disgust, more arrests, more anti-poaching training and deployment we are currently loosing this battle.  We need to do more.”

——Original Message——

Subject: Kariega update Wed 14th March 8pm
Sent: Mar 14, 2012 9:03 PM

Once again we find ourselves on the eve of planned vet procedures on our two rhino. The build up to these operations is very stressful. Most wildlife procedures require much more planning and thought than actual time we spend carrying them out, but in this case the effort and logistics are double so I have spent most of the afternoon in planning for another big day.

Apart from the practicalities of a helicopter, work teams, drugs, vehicles, ropes, water, press, video and weather implications the most important thing is patient preparation. In this case we can’t do pre-anaesthetic checks and blood tests to see if their kidneys, liver, blood cells, proteins and mineral levels are indicating that they will survive another anaesthetic.

All we really have to go on are the observations of the monitoring team on the ground. In this department Jason has been giving me feedback today but Themba has been lying up for most of the day in a plumbago patch in the same hollow he was in yesterday. Because of his bullish behaviour yesterday I have advised caution and we haven’t been able to assess him at close range as well as I would have liked.

Jason reports that he has spent part of the past 24 hours in the mud wallow and he has been drinking but signs of him eating are not convincing and this combined with his lack of mobility today, is of great concern to us. We will do a final assessment tomorrow morning weighing up the risks vs. benefits of a procedure. Thandi has been seen and is mobile as usual so she appears to be stable.

Not a day goes by without the thought of losing one of them crossing my mind. The emotions of the past 13 days lie very close to the surface so even the thought of this happening brings tears to my eyes. We would be absolutely devastated if we lost either one of them at this stage. Your prayers give us strength of this I am certain because we feel driven beyond what I know we are capable of. I have to trust that those same prayers and positive thoughts apply even more so to them.

——Original Message——

Subject: Kariega update Thurs 15th March 2pm

Sent: Mar 15, 2012 3:08 PM

They’re alive! Both Themba and Thandi continue to fight for their lives at Kariega. Thandi is simply inspirational! The way she is moving around the reserve indicates her position in the recovery process is improving every day. We found her running with a female and calf which we dehorned the other day so she is socially integrating again which is a very positive sign. Her face is also showing some good signs of progress. The maggot infestation is much improved and the level of infection has reduced around her facial injuries.  Under anaesthetic she was stable and we were able to do some aggressive cleaning down to the exposed bone.

Themba is such a brave fighter. We tend to forget that in our terms he is only a boy, not even a teenager at four rhino years old. His courage against enormous odds continues to amaze us. We found him in the little hollow next to the beautiful water hole that he has been at for the past 3 days now. A more tranquil and beautiful place you could never wish to find. He had grass hanging from his mouth and a fair amount of fighting spirit in him when we approached. I took this as a sign that his anaesthetic chances of survival were worth the risk and so we darted him and treated him with a barrage of medication as well as doing a hurried clean out of his wounds.

His face is not getting any worse but where he had pushed mud into the nasal sinuses a large amount of decaying matter had become trapped in the cavities behind there.  On the good side, his maggot infestation is much better around the face but the signs of an obvious healing response are not the same as with Thandi.  Yet again we sit with, quite literally, a life and death struggle based on his bad leg.

His leg is looking a lot worse from the outside in that more areas of skin are revealing their necrotic  state and there are two more drainage holes on the outside of his foot indicating a deterioration in the skin. It is still impossible to know the full extent of the internal leg injuries and the state of progress within.

——Original Message——

Subject: Kariega update Fri 16th March 5pm

Sent: Mar 16, 2012 6:23 PM

Thandi had joined up with the other rhino again by late yesterday so doesn’t appear to have been outwardly affected by her procedure. The monitoring team report that Themba has moved away from his hollow and has been grazing well on the edge of the thicket line. He passed dung and has had water during the past 24 hours. These parameters were what we were worried about in the two days leading up to yesterdays procedures so are positive signs. The pain killers we gave him yesterday will be wearing off now and we don’t want to give him more unless we absolutely have to.

All the indications based on his condition under anaesthetic were that his system is very run down, his blood pressure was low and I am very worried about the capacity of his vital organs to handle the battering they are taking.  The next 24 hours should give us an indication if he is able to sustain himself without anti-inflammatory/pain killers. If his eating and activity reduce we will have to go back onto them at the risk of damage, especially his kidneys.

We continue to source as much input from other vets regarding the best way forward for them. I have consulted daily with different vets who have had experience of rhino wounds which is highly valued from a professional point of view.  The other noticeable aspect of the process so far is how much it is affecting people from all over the world with skills and experience not usually utilised by vets in the field. This has been a very humbling experience as it brings home the importance of these beautiful animals and the way they have crept into people’s hearts.

As Thandi appears to have turned the corner, we are starting to build on a treatment plan to try and re-construct her face as much as possible. At this stage it seems impossible to establish a full skin cover over her facial wounds but I can promise we will do everything we can to give her the best possible chance of doing so. As mentioned before much of this is new territory in the treatment of rhino and we will consider every avenue we can think of. We have already had Dr Glynn Catton arrange for an artificial skin product to be sent down to us in the hope that it can make a difference during the healing process.   This coming week a human re-constructive

Surgeon, Dr Alistair Lamont has offered to fly up from Cape Town to consider their condition and start applying his mind to what could possibly be done during the months ahead.  Given the extensive experience that surgeons have in re-habilitating human injuries, I expect to be able to learn much from shared knowledge for Themba and Thandi and for the benefit of future victims of these poaching atrocities.

The contrast between what man is capable of in terms of both pain and welfare is staggering. It is a sobering reminder of the power we possess in the choices we make. We have been given custodianship over all species on this planet. Our legacy lies entrenched in whether we choose to turn a blind eye to this level of suffering or whether we choose to do something about it. You, like me, have a choice to make.

There is still hope for this brave boy but he has not turned the corner and is still deteriorating where it matters most.  On his recovery from this morning’s procedures he did give us a ten meter charge which was energising.

We left him, surrounded by lush green grass, plenty of shade, clean water and a host of familiar birds and their peaceful calls to keep him company.

The plumbago bushes stand over a meter tall framing his surroundings with the softest blue colours.  How have we allowed the lusts of men, on the other side of the planet, to invade the tranquillity of this heavenly place?

Themba and Thandi, surrounded by all we value in nature, live on as icons of animal suffering and the determination to survive.  They stand guard at the door, one strong and one weak, that will lead to the demise of thousands more species because of our apathy.  They are adopted, as champions of a cause which goes far beyond “Saving the Rhino” because if we don’t save the Rhino, who move us to this extent, what hope do we have of saving the rest.

——Original Message——

Subject: Kariega update Sat 17th March 5pm

Sent: Mar 17, 2012 5:05 PM

Themba has been moving on the edge of the thicket line where the grass is knee high and lush. He has been eating well and because of his location Jason has been able to observe him for some time in the open. This information as well as images from camera traps he has put out indicates a very slight improvement in his circumstances. On assessing his leg this morning there are still superficial signs of skin deterioration so his struggle continues and we still do not have enough evidence yet that he will make it. For today, I am happy that his body is not deteriorating and that he appears to be managing without the need for more pain killers.

Thandi continues to do well and covers a lot of ground. She has moved through the same area that Themba is in and one wonders what sort of communication they have shared.

Yesterday I spoke of the choices we have to make regarding this crisis.

Today is the day we need to choose to do something about it. Considering the choices that Dr Ian Player and many others chose to make over 50 years ago now, when Operation Rhino was put into action, we learn that the actions of a few produced amazing results; one of the best success stories in conservation history.  It is such sadness that the same man now has to endure the same war twice. But the rules of engagement are very different this time around. This war needs to be fought on many fronts and this war will not be won through the actions of a few. This war requires the participation of millions with a diversity of skills doing something every single day until the slaughter stops.

If you are not already active in the fight to save the Rhino, you can start today by telling someone the story of Themba and Thandi. Tell them of the horror of poaching and what you can’t put into words, show them with the images. Support Kariega in their efforts to keep these icons of the rhino struggle alive and we will play our part on the ground.

In 2 days time the Associated Press will distribute these shameful images to their network of 300 channels worldwide. One of the executive directors has described their footage as “the most graphic she has ever seen on this subject” so it will shock the world. But action is what we need more than sympathy and a story of survival is the hope that might just motivate the rest of the world to action. A few days after the 85th birthday of Dr Player, we honour the efforts of his inspiring life by doing something, today and every single day until the poaching stops.

——Original Message——

Subject: Kariega update Sun 18th March 5pm

Sent: Mar 18, 2012 5:05 PM

Jason and the rest of the Kariega monitoring effort report that Themba has moved about 750 meters over the past  24 hours, has drunk well and is passing large amounts of dung which confirms the amount of intake the tracking team have observed. His leg status is unchanged and there is possibly more opaque discharge today than what we have seen before which could be an ominous indicator of our struggle against infection.  So he appears to be holding his own for now but we will have to watch his leg wounds carefully over the next 48 hours for signs of deterioration, indicating the state of tissues under the skin.

Rangers have reported that Thandi has been seen grazing and behaving “normally” yesterday evening and she has moved about five km’s since then so her situation remains positive.

Today, I will not be of any direct assistance to Themba or Thandi as the Kariega team will do all that is required. But today is another day we will lose more rhino and so I choose to do something else.  The awareness campaign occupies most of my time when I am not directly involved with rhino and I ask myself the question every single day, “what is it that I can do to make a positive difference today”.

Every one of us has a network of people and a set of skills we can consider involving in this struggle. I have had the honour of working intermittently with Braam Malherbe on the ground from day 3 of this ordeal.  Braam symbolises the concept of DOT “do one thing” which he encourages at every opportunity and it is a powerful way of getting things done. We cannot be intimidated by the Goliath’s that threaten us or our fears will be paralysing.

Braam, more than anyone I have met has undertaken huge physical and mental challenges for conservation causes and by example he demonstrates what man is capable when we get out of our comfort zones and decide we can. He has run the Great Wall of China and recently returned from a successful expedition to the South Pole representing our magnificent country. The lesson for me is that everything he achieves can only be done through one step followed by another. Meter by meter, there is no other way so today I chose to take another step for the Rhino.

Today, I do something simple, I sort out my photos. Not earth shattering but it is one step closer to the presentation I might deliver in a week or months time. As I do so, they scream out a message of blood, pain, horror and brutality which brings the tears flooding back. They won’t save one life today, but if I listen to what this experience is telling me, and I manage the simple things that I have at my disposal, they may end up being the most powerful tools I will ever have in MY fight to save the rhino.

—–Original Message—–

Sent: 19 March 2012 19:57

Subject: Kariega update Mon 19th March 9pm

Themba is moving less and less every day, he is still eating and drinking well but our levels of concern are creeping up again and the fear of infection running out of control in that leg, worries us continuously. We will resist another anaesthetic at all costs but tomorrow, once again, we prepare for this very real possibility. How much more of these can he take?

Will this be the one that makes his body say enough is enough?  Given all that he has gone through, the level of pressure on the team increases every time. Tomorrow morning we will re-asses his situation and once again weigh up risk vs. benefit and pray we are doing the best thing for him.  Thandi continues to move around all over the park and shows nothing to concern us.

With official figures on poached rhino during 2012 (up to 16th March) now listed as 135 animals I find it soul destroying to think that since the night of poaching of the Kariega three, we have lost 45 more rhino. This is now an average of three per day. In other words, the horrors of what we found on that morning of hell on the 2nd of March, has happened every day since then to rhino across our country.  In spite of more cries of disgust, more arrests, more anti-poaching training and deployment we are currently loosing this battle.  We need to do more.

Within this vortex of crime, greed, cruelty and human scum we can’t help but admire Themba and Thandi desperately trying to struggle their way out.

Thandi is still making slow progress away from the gravity that tried to suck her in, Themba, the boy with the courage of a warrior scarcely managing to resist the current.  The irony of their story is that should they live, should they free themselves of this life threatening situation, they become immune from the curse that the orchestrators of poaching have placed on all rhino.

Because they will never grow horns again, the very symbol of their grand stature in natures order, they become worthless to poachers, no longer a target, free from mans greed, free from the threat that stalks every single rhino left on the planet. What a different life they will have if they make it through.

Yes, survivors are important. They are important for the species and they are important for the fight. They motivate us in a war that for now we are losing. But we look at them and we learn from their fight, that every single one is important. Survivors of this level of brutality, win immunity. Please continue to support the Kariega team in fighting not just for their lives, but fighting for their immunity…for LIFE.

It’s tough reading at times, but needs to be read. Please spread the word. As Dr. Fowlds says:
“What YOU do for them by telling the world or their senseless sufferings and their brave fight for survival WILL make a difference to the plight of the rhino. Whether we win or lose 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.”

Here follow the progress reports from Dr. Fowlds:

——Original Message——
From: Will Fowlds
Subject: Kariega update Sat 3rd Mar 4pm
Sent: Mar 3, 2012 4:14 PM

Male rhino leg swelling has deteriorated and he is not using it at all now. We have administered antibiotics and more anti inflammatories using drop out darts this morning. He is not eating or drinking yet.

The female was not found this morning after a morning of searching on foot. A helicopter was offered by Warne Rippon to assist with an aerial search but she has still not been seen today. Temperature on the ground is over 35 degrees C so we suspect she is lying up under thicket canopy. Not being able to confirm her status is a concern and the search continues.

——Original Message——
Subject: Re: Kariega update Sat 3rd Mar 11pm
Sent: Mar 3, 2012 11:57 PM

Update Sat 3 March 11pm. News from Kariega team is that situation with male remains unchanged. He is still responsive and able to move around. No sign of female as yet. In morning ground team will use JCB and new pipe-line to turn wallow into a waterhole for him.  He spends most of his time standing in the mud. We assume the coolness of it must be soothing for him.

——Original Message——
Subject: Re: Kariega update Sun 4th Mar 8am
Sent: Mar 4, 2012 8:31 AM

News from Kariega team. My heart leaps at very encouraging news firstly that they found the female in the night grazing in the open. Another small victory is the male have moved about 250 meters since 11pm and is grazing this morning. He leg is still in the same state so we are still very concerned for his future but this is the first positive news we have so we take it with both hands.

——Original Message——
Subject: Re: Kariega update Sun 4th Mar 5pm
Sent: Mar 4, 2012 5:46 PM

Kariega male survivor appears to be in a lot pain this afternoon. He has moved off to a position where the terrain makes safe top up treatment very risky. Hoping he will keep moving away from this area this evening so we can administer more drugs. His leg swelling appears to be deteriorating which is not good news. The female has not been seen today but we plan on doing a scheduled procedure in the morning to evaluate and treat her.

——Original Message——
Subject: Re: Kariega update Sun 4th Mar 6pm
Sent: Mar 4, 2012 6:36 PM

Update 6pm. Female found walking well. She has been eating and we watched her drink well at the waterhole. Very good news as far as her body is concerned. She has 2 holes 5cm across in her face and a visible piece of flesh hanging from this area with signs of fly activity setting in.

——Original Message——
Subject: Re: Kariega update Mon 5th Mar 11am
Sent: Mar 5, 2012 11:32 AM

Monday morning we flew with the chopper, found the female and immobilised her. Her body appears to be recovering well but her facial injuries are worse than they appear from a distance. There is an area 30cm long and 15cm wide of exposed hacked skull and gaping holes into the underlying sinuses. The infection has already set in and maggots have started in the crevices left behind by the panga lesions.

We cut away as much dead tissue as possible but there is still an area of bony tissue that will need removing probably at a later stage. An application of medical tar will sort the maggots out but there is a long road ahead for this poor lady. Her fighting spirit is humbling to witness as her face depicts such utter shame on humanity. The whole team were deeply moved by this horrendous experience and the bravery if this soul.

The bull’s state is not good. For the first time we were able to do a hands on evaluation of his leg. The only thing standing between life and death is that he is placing his foot when he walks as opposed to dragging it as he was yesterday. There is some blood getting through to his foot but there are large areas of his left back leg that have little or no blood supply. Over all the swelling is slightly improved. We have applied a full dose of anti-inflammatories and a broad spectrum antibiotic as well as supportive treatment to his face, vitamins and fluids.

It was heartbreaking to see him struggling to his feet as the anaesthetic drugs reversed, knowing that he still has so much to endure. A decision to euthanize him was considered but has been delayed on the strength of some positives and a clear will to live. His life, sadly hangs in the balance.

——Original Message——
Subject: Re: Kariega update Mon 5th Mar 8pm
Sent: Mar 5, 2012 8:19 PM

Both Kariega animals appear to have come through today’s procedures without showing any visible 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. It’s 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.

——Original Message——
Subject: Re: Kariega update Tues 6th Mar 9am
Sent: Mar 6, 2012 8:53 AM

The Kariega bull has moved a significant distance of several kilometres 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 yesterday’s 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.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Tues 6th Mar 7pm
Sent: Mar 6, 2012 7:59 PM

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 lets 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.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Wed 7th Mar 10am
Sent: Mar 7, 2012 10:27 AM

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 bull’s 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.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Wed 7th Mar 8pm
Sent: Mar 7, 2012 8:46 PM

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.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Wed 8th Mar 9am
Sent: Mar 8, 2012 8:57 AM

Themba 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.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Wed 8th Mar 5pm
Sent: Mar 8, 2012 5:02 PM

Themba has moved a substantial distance over the past few days. Lance has confirmed that he is eating and drinking and he is passing normal faeces which are all positives signs. However, on a visual examination of him earlier today his leg is showing signs of possible deterioration and the way he is favouring it has not improved in the past 48 hours. The decision to change his anti-inflammatory to something more potent has now been taken. We run higher risks of damage to kidneys if they are already compromised. Given his ordeal this is quite likely and it’s the reason why we haven’t gone for this option yet.

With every treatment we have been giving him a sedative which in humans causes short term memory loss in the hope that he doesn’t remember much of these experiences. This is speculation but I am willing to try anything to make his struggle less traumatic. I said yesterday that today was make or break for him. As far as the rest of his body is concerned, he appears to be going in the right direction. However, in two days time we will anaesthetise him and have to surgically examine his leg. If there is still hope, we will apply surgical drainage to his leg to limit the impact that the internal decaying tissue has on his body. If this process has already progressed beyond a certain point, we will have to take the unbearable decision of euthanizing him.

Your support and prayers for both rhino and this amazing Kariega team are so appreciated. You have no idea how lifting they are under such demanding circumstances.

Thandi has not shown herself today but we know her location and are less concerned about her today.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Fri 9th Mar 11am
Sent: Mar 9, 2012 11:24 AM

During the night Themba moved about 350 meters and was found lying up in a good area. There are obvious signs of him having grazed during the night and we are not going to disturb him today for treatment. Full assessment will be done tomorrow under anaesthetic.

Part of the treatment progression during this 1st week has been to cross-reference as much as possible to ensure we are doing all we can for them. I have had daily conversations with other vets around the country who have had to treat survivors of poaching. Success has been very mixed and there is no one protocol out there to follow as every situation is so different. Sadly if we consider the escalation in poaching with 8 more animals added to the death toll yesterday alone bringing the 2012 total to 108, I anticipate that we will have to deal with more and more of these traumatised animals.

We would all like to believe that the illegal availability of the opioid drugs they are using has dried up which, sadly, may result in poachers using as little as possible to achieve their barbaric goals. If this becomes a trend, more of these animals will survive the mutilation and hence it is so vitally important that we learn from every experience and improve our levels or care and treatment wherever we can.

Cindy Harper (DNA specialist working on the rhino crisis) said in the NBC News programme “The Rhino’s Last Stand” aired in the USA two weeks ago, “These are not things. They are living beings that we can connect to. We care about them, each and every one of them”.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Fri 9th Mar 6pm
Sent: Mar 9, 2012 6:22 PM

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 disastrous.

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.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Sat 10th Mar 4pm
Sent: Mar 10, 2012 4:03 PM

It has been a dramatic day at Kariega. Having set out with the possibility of losing 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 senselessness 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 relieving 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.

——Original Message——
Subject: Kariega update Sun 11th Mar 9am
Sent: Mar 11, 2012 11:34 AM

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 assistance 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 definitely 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.

It appears that they have come through the procedures yesterday as well as we can expect which is good news. We have started processing the video material of the first nine days and believe me; I constantly question my own decisions as these images remind me of all they have come through. Many people will ask why these gentle giants should be allowed go through this painful healing process at all. Only time will tell if I have made the right decision or not concerning their welfare and the responsibility of this will be mine to answer for.

While we fight with them for the return of their comfortable lives at Kariega, everyone reading this has the opportunity to fight for the life, dignity and respect which this entire species deserves. I urge you to expose the brutal reality of poaching to the world by sharing the story of Themba and Thandi. What we do for them on the ground will only make a fraction of a difference in the battle to save a species. What YOU do for them by telling the world or their senseless sufferings and their brave fight for survival WILL make a difference.

Subject: Re: Kariega update Sun 11th Mar 11am
Sent: Mar 11, 2012 11:50 AM

What YOU do for them by telling the world or their senseless sufferings and their brave fight for survival WILL make a difference to the plight of the rhino. Whether we win or lose 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.

Subject: Re: Kariega update Sun 11th Mar 8pm
Sent: Mar 11, 2012 8:35 PM

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 lose 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.

Subject: Re: Kariega update Mon 12th Mar 4pm
Sent: Mar 12, 2012 4:27 PM

Themba continues to be a worry as we are not aware of him drinking at all since his anaesthetic which is now 2 days ago. There was rain on the first night which may have given him some puddles of water to drink from. He is only a few hundred meters from water this afternoon and he knows his surroundings well which should mean that he would have taken in some fluids by now.  There are signs of him feeding as he has made his way through the edge of the thicket line today but not enough yet to be happy with his progress. He has not passed faeces yet today which confirms his reduced intake and although assessing condition in these thick skinned animals is difficult we can see noticeable weight loss now.

I decided not to treat with anti-imflammatories today as I am concerned that, should he be dehydrated, we may damage his kidneys further. Themba has moved 200 to 300 meters over the past 24 hours so he is still mobile and alert but he is only taking about 10% weight on his bad leg.

Thandi has been moving around a lot and was up a steep forested valley when I tried to get a look at her this afternoon. She has moved around a lot in the past 24 hours so seems to be holding her own for now. The Kariega staff have been seeing her out in the open quite a lot.

Today we officially released the horrendous images that were taken on day 1. Just working through these images and reliving the horror of that first morning has not been easy but I must give all the credit to Paul Mills who filmed these scenes and has edited them together for us without asking for anything in return.  As I was racing to Kariega on Day 1, I phoned Paul to ask for his help as their condition could not afford any delays. Paul dropped everything and met me on the road so that he could capture everything that happened from the minute I got there.

Not only is this footage important for awareness but it is also invaluable for me to be able to study now and compare the various symptoms that we are working with at this stage, with those from the early days of the process.  For me, this war requires as many people on this planet to appreciate the shear horror of poaching and the images which we have recorded at every stage, I pray will prompt the sort of response from you all that converts into ACTION.

The first action which I urge you to do is to share these links and images with your entire network and those in authority in your communities. This is the first and most important step. We will do our best, along with many others who have already done so much, to suggest other ways you can make the suffering of Themba and Thandi make a difference in this war.

The future of their species is at stake, the lives and sufferings of their kin hang in the balance.

Subject: Re: Kariega update Tues 13th March 6pm
Sent: 13 March 2012 16:45

For the first time since this horrendous ordeal began, Themba showed us some real signs of progress this afternoon. He is much more alert than he has been and although he is still not taking weight on his leg, he gave us a good rev when we tried to assess his condition at close range. It was wonderful! We had planned to treat him today so he would have a 2 day break before his next surgery session. However,  after finding him in a well grassed hollow next to a water hole that he has been drinking from we decided to let him be just as he is.  He passed a good amount of dung which confirms he is eating something but I am still not convinced its enough. He has plastered his face full of mud so that the holes into his head are completely blocked by mud today.

In an effort to try show you the extent of the damage to his skull Larry Witmer from WitmerLab at Ohio University has produced an amazing graphic for us with the help of his assistant Ryan Ridgely. I had seen some of Larry’s work in a rhino paper before and when I approached him he responded instantly to my request for help. His whole lab have got behind this story which we are very grateful for.

I will be posting more of his images in subsequent reports as they highlight the extent of the complications that these animals are facing. You will see from the diagram that the poachers have hacked through his skull and into the cavity below which is in turn connected to a labyrinth of passages and air spaces inside his skull. Let’s pray that Thembas noticeable improvement today keeps on moving in the right direction.

Thandi continues to be very mobile and isn’t showing herself much but all indications remain positive for her apart from her face which we know will be a long, drawn out recovery.

We will do all we can to try and prevent complications for them and we so appreciate the growing army of caring rhino campaigners out there who have shown support for these two magnificent ambassadors of the living dinosaurs.

We cannot be the generation that is responsible for their extinction. It is simply NOT and option.