In these dry times I’m surprised more animals don’t take advantage of the green grass flourishing in Banyini pan, just a lone zebra. A few birds patrolled the shores, Painted Snipe and Wood Sandpipers.
But all this green food proved too much for the zebra which moved on to drier pastures to balance his rich diet.
We were lucky today to be involved in the capture of 2 white rhino on Malilangwe Reserve. Of course the girls were there in force wanting to help wherever they could.
Their first task was to keep a record of the animals pulse, oxygen levels, respiration and temperature. These have to be monitored every 5 minutes to be sure the animal’s condition is stable. Any rapid change in any of these variables would trigger the vet to act.
In the meantime the vet was inserting a radio transmitter into the rhino’s horn. This will help in locating the animal daily and help in antipoaching.
The second calf was smaller and he was dehorned as they often break their horns in transit. But also to make him less of a target for rhino horn poachers. The girls task this time was to keep him cool as their body temperatures rise considerably during anaethesia.
And the final cherry on the top for the girls was a helicopter ride back to base!
So a good day for us in documenting the girls in action for our Series with Animal Planet.
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