Zululand’s rhinos a cut above the rest
iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, as well as with Thula Thula Private Game Reserve and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife successfully dehorned two rhinos at each of the game parks during separate procedures
FOLLOWING the recent spate of poaching and attacks on rhinos in the region, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, as well as with Thula Thula Private Game Reserve and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, last week successfully dehorned two rhinos at each of the game parks during separate procedures.
The procedure, which can be likened to cutting a toenail without damaging the ‘quick’, takes about 20 minutes and is completely painless.
Provided the entire population is targeted, there are no known social side effects which may affect the rhino in the short- or long-term.
On Wednesday morning management at Thula Thula Game Reserve dehorned their 8-year-old rhinos Ntombi and Thabo, who have been with the reserve from a very young age after they were orphaned.
Founder and General Manager of Thula Thula Françoise Anthony told the ZO the procedure was more a trimming of the rhino’s horns.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Thula Thula rhinos dehorned
‘They were dehorned last year and this was just to trim their horns to further ensure their protection.
‘We also fitted them with satellite tracking collars, as part of measures to beef up our security within the reserve,’ said Anthony.
Wildlife veterinarian, Mike Toft, conducted the procedure and within no time both animals were tagged with satellite tracking collars as well as dehorned.
The horns were then sent away to an undisclosed location for safe keeping.
On Thursday iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority completed the removal of the regrowth from the resident rhino population on the Western shores – further reflecting the Park’s continued commitment to put rhinos and their safety first.
Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of iSimangaliso, said it is vital for such operations to continue as the Western Shores of the World Heritage Site remains one of those more vulnerable to poaching.
‘Like toenails, horns do re-grow – which increases the risk of poaching overtime – and although dehorning is not a guarantee to stop poaching, it has shown to be a significant deterrent on the Western Shores,’ he said.
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