Dehorning & Collaring Rhinos: Lionspruit

I start my day early, at 5:15 AM in Marloth Park, doing some computer work. After a coffee with the team and warthogs visiting our back porch, amidst the calls of African birds and a beautiful sunrise, we meet the rest of the team around 7:15 AM. Our group is a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities, all coming together for the same cause—to see and protect wildlife.

After a briefing from our veterinarian, we headed to where the rangers had already found the rhinos. Peanut and Flippy were happily feeding on some dropped lucerne. As the filmmaker, I was lucky to be able to get on the bakkie (pickup truck) with the wildlife veterinarian. Only one car goes in for the darting, to not scare the animals.

I stood right next to the vet, looking over his shoulder with my camera as he darted the first rhino, Peanut, with a perfect shot. Flippy only moved back about ten meters, and stood there waiting as his friend became more and more sleepy. “Alright, let’s take the opportunity,” said Chris. The initial plan was to dart one rhino at a time, but since they were next to each other, we darted both. Another perfectly administered shot. 

After darting, we approached the rhinos while they were still in a half-seated position, not yet blindfolded. I looked into their eyes up close, then the blindfolds went on, and in a huff, the rhinos fell over, only a few meters apart from each other, a textbook operation. Their mouths and legs quivered from the effect of the tranquilizer. It is incredible to be up close to these animals; the skin was rough to the touch, but near the mouth, it was soft and velvety.

We called the rest of the crew in and the bakkies arrived, with our eager wildlife lovers ready to help with dehorning, collaring, measurements, and tick spraying. The next fifteen  minutes were busy as the vets and team worked swiftly and efficiently with the rhinos. Then, it was time for a few posed photos, taken as quickly as possible to not delay waking up the animals any further.

After spending a few more surreal minutes up close with the animals, we all piled back onto the bakkie. The vet administered the reversal drug, and within minutes, we watched as the rhinos got back to their feet. Initially, they sniffed one another, engaging in a silent communication as if questioning what had just happened. We stood in silence and awe, observing as the rhinos processed their experience before blundering back into the bush. 

Partners and Collaborators:

Over & Above Africa

Wild and Free Rehabilitation Center

Lionspruit Private Game Reserve

African Wildlife Vets (Chris Smith)

Nkomazi Local Municipality