Very few rhinos survive mutilating poacher attacks. They usually die of blood loss, shock, or infection. But one lucky female white rhino named Thandi in South Africa's Eastern Cape did, thanks to the skills of veterinary surgeon Dr. William Fowlds and quick action by staff at Karlenga Game Reserve. Thandi and a young bull, Themba, were found lying in pools of blood, their horns hacked off, but still alive. They had been darted with an opiod anesthetic and had been lying on their sides for about eight hours. This condition was more life threatening than their disgusting mutilations. Unless the animals could be revived and gotten to their feet, they would certainly die from suffocation or organ failure. Antidote was administered and both rhinos responded, a miracle in itself.
Treatment for their wounds began immediately. Thandi's wounds were fist-sized and so deep, Dr. Fowlds could see her nasal passages and sinuses. Foam oozed from her nostrils. She had lost 20 litres of blood in agony overnight. After the weeks of recovery, the vet was confident both rhinos would survive. But twenty three days after the attack of 2 March 2012, Themba, weak and crippled in one leg, slipped while drinking and fell into the water. Too weak to get out, he was drowning. Dr. Fowlds ran to his rescue and tried to hold his heavy head above water, but it was too late. Fate or God, released Themba from his pain and misery; at his autopsy the heroic vet found Themba's leg muscles were disintegrating from lying on his side too long.
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| credit: Neil Aldridge |
Themba's death made the veterinarian team more determined to save Thandi. One year and many operations later she showed signs of recovery. Her wounds had healed and she was following her old behaviors. Themba got into an altercation with a new bull on the Reserve and the fragile skin on her face was scraped off. Four new skin graft techniques were used by Dr. Fowlds on Themba's face. Rhinos are tough creatures living in a harsh environment, so the new skins did not last long. Dr. Fowlds was not interested in Themba's looks, but enabling her to resume a normal rhino life and allow her to contribute to her species by reproducing. Themba's suffering and the vet's groundbreaking efforts were not for naught.
Karlenga Game Reserve recently announced that Thandi has given birth to a calf. Blood tests showed Thandi was pregnant in December 2013. Rhino gestation takes 15 to 16 months. Thandi and her calf are under protection and visitors are not allowed to disturb them to give them the best chance of survival. Thandi is living proof humans can insure the rhino's future if we muster the will to do so.