Help Us Save Rhinos
In June 2021, two of our LVTs, Samantha and Catina, embarked on a once in a lifetime journey to South Africa to participate in the Vets Go Wild program, offered through World Wide Experience and run by Dr. William Fowlds. Dr. Fowlds is the owner of a game reserve in the Eastern Cape, thus giving him the opportunity to allow for more hands-on experience for all the participants. Samantha and Catina were able to work with rhinos, African buffalo, lions, giraffe, and an array of antelope species. They were able to use their technical skills that they learned in small animal medicine and incorporate them into African wildlife medicine, while also learning about conservation medicine.
A lot of the work being done surrounding African wildlife is related to conservation medicine and there has been a huge emphasis on rhino conservation. Rhinos are critically endangered, having gone from about 500,000 at the turn of the 20th century to only about 30,000 today. This is primarily due to poaching for their horns, although habitat loss is a contributing factor.
While participating in the Vets Go Wild program, Samantha and Catina were exposed to the reality of rhino poaching. They met Thandi - the world’s most famous poaching survivor - and assisted in dehorning and tracking collar procedures. Dehorning is a measure taken to ensure that a rhino is not killed for their horn, by removing it preemptively. The tracking collar procedures are just as important as it allows the anti-poaching units to monitor the rhinos and know their exact locations and not waste valuable time looking for the rhino in the large reserves and national parks.
COVID-19 halted most tourism around the world and South Africa is no different. The drop in tourism consequently depletes funds to support dehorning and tracking collar procedures. The initial report for the first half of 2021 in regards to rhino poaching showed a 50% increase - which is alarming, considering South Africa is home to 80% of Africa’s rhino population.
Dr. William Fowlds is the primary veterinarian for these procedures in the Eastern Cape and he teamed up with Helping Rhinos in a campaign to provide ‘40 Collars for 40 Rhino’. Samantha and Catina would like to help them with this goal.
Our goal is to raise $1,375 to cover the costs associated with one rhino collaring procedure. CAC is graciously matching up to $1,000 of our donations, so let’s see if we can cover two procedures!
If you would like to make a donation, please do so here. All funds go directly to ‘40 Collars for 40 Rhino’!
No amount of money is too small and all support/generosity is greatly appreciated!
