Thandi is pregnant!
On the 2 March 2012 three rhinos were poached at Kariega Game Reserve – two males and one female. All three rhinos had been darted with tranquilisers by poachers and had their horns brutally hacked off before being left to bleed out, unable to move and in terrible pain. One of the bulls died from his injuries during the course of the night, but miraculously the other two rhinos were found alive. They were immediately treated by wildlife vet Dr William Fowlds who administered antidote to the tranquilisers, antibiotics, vitamins and anti-inflammatory/pain killers.
A chaotic period followed in which the two rhinos were continually monitored and treated in an effort to provide them with the best possible chance of survival. Their strength and courage prompted our rangers to name the bull Themba and the cow Thandi – the isiXhosa words meaning Hope and Love respectively. Devastatingly, Themba passed away on the 24 March 2013.
Our efforts with Thandi have continued over the last year and nine months. We were delighted that she continued to improve, showing an incredible fighting spirit and will to survive. After she made it through the initial critical period, her surgeries and procedures have focused on keeping the wound from infection and finding ways to protect her vulnerable face from the rigours of normal rhino life. There have been ups and downs including two occasions when her wound has reopened but despite that, her behaviour has returned to normal and she has become more trusting and less nervous with each passing day.
Earlier this year a pioneering skin graft procedure was performed on Thandi by a team of specialists that collaborated on the first ever skin graft on a poaching survivor. During two separate procedures in June and July this year, Thandi was given four different types of skin grafts in an effort to protect her damaged face. Sadly most of the transplanted tissue was rubbed off as in the wild there is no way to protect these soft beds of tissue. The decision has been made to take a step back from the supportive process and give her time to show us the way forward.
Thandi’s story has travelled to all corners of the world, helping to raise awareness, inspire and give hope in the fight against poaching. For some recent highlights see
http://www.kariega.co.za/blog/thandis-story-goes-to-vietnam-and-china
http://news.sky.com/story/1144145/rhino-poaching-deaths-set-for-record-high
Thandi spends most of her time in the company of one of the other rhino cows on the reserve and we were delighted when Thandi’s female companion gave birth to a beautiful calf in March this year – almost exactly one year after the poaching incident. The calf was fathered by either Themba or the unnambed bull lost to poaching in March 2012.
The Kariega Foundation Save the Rhino fund was initially set up to help provide the best possible treatment and chance for survival to Thandi and Themba. In line with our hope and ambition that Thandi be allowed to live a normal rhino life in the wild, a new bull was recently purchased to replace the two bulls we lost and to further promote breeding on the reserve. We were very pleased when the new bull and Thandi were spotted mating by some of the rangers and have had our fingers crossed for the best possible outcome.
At a small press conference held on Saturday at Kariega Game Reserve, we were extremely excited to announce that recent blood tests reveal Thandi is pregnant!
Dr Fowlds said, “During the last facial procedure we added another blood profile to her routine tests which we have been running from the beginning courtesy of IDEXX Laboratories. This time, with fingers crossed, we requested a progesterone assay which measures the hormone that is generated in increasing amounts during pregnancy. The results, a mere 3.9 parts per billion of her blood are enough to indicate that she is towards the end of her first trimester of pregnancy. I don’t recall such a small value carrying such huge significance for anything in my professional life. Thandi is arguably the single most important rhino alive as I am not aware of any individual animal that has carried the plight of the rhino out to the world to the extent that she has and continues to do. Her story has touched the lives of so many people across the globe and her courage is reflected in our love for her and the species that she represents. The prospects of a successful pregnancy and birth represent the hope of survival. In a crisis which threatens us with despair, that hope, as insignificant as it may seem for some, is what we cling to for dear life.”
Foundation patron and Kariega co-owner Graeme Rushmere comments “This is incredible news, a real miracle if the tests are correct. Thandi having a calf will be a real reward for her courage and everyone’s unbelievable efforts in saving her and hoping that she is able to lead a normal and peaceful rhino life after her horrific ordeal. She has been an amazing ambassador for rhino and for the many dedicated people fighting the war to end rhino poaching. We are simply delighted.”
Supplied by: Kariega Game Reserve