White Rhino female and calf darting on Karongwe

What started out as an ordinary day, quickly turned into the adventure of a lifetime for some of the EMs at Karongwe Game Reserve. At about 09h00 we received a call from Constant, the reserve manager, stating that one of the Rhino cows had broken her horn, and needed to be darted for a check-up. “Extra hands will be needed if she has to be moved”, he said.

We all rushed to a central point close to where she had been seen that morning, then it was ‘hurry up and wait’ with the chopper flying to and fro nearby, building our excitement until our skin was the only thing keeping us from going everywhere at once. After an hour of baking in the sun we got the call to come in- the rhinos were down.

On arrival we were pleased to find that the Rhino and her calf had gone down close to a road, and no more than 10m from Chipembere Dam! The calf was fairly awake but once blind-folded, and on his sternum, he seemed to relax a little and his breathing became more regular as the drugs started wearing off. His mother however, took a bit more manipulation to get onto her sternum, 20 sweating, cursing EMs to be precise. Everyone had their hands full… while some tended to the cow, holding her on her sternum; others ran to and from the dam collecting water in large 20L containers to keep the animals cool. Unfortunately the horn had been cracked right down at the base (it is thought from a scuffle with one of the males on the reserve). So it was sawn off for safe keeping and the decision taken to move the two rhinos to the project enclosure for close monitoring.

With the fearless vet Dr Peter Rogers talking us through the process we managed to get the calf on his feet (it took an electric cattle prod, but once he was up, he was up) and walk him into the trailer in preparation for the move. It took almost 30 people to move the rhino cow and get her into the larger trailer. Once secure in the trailer they took the short journey up to the buffalo project where they were released.

The cow was released first as we all watched anxiously from a distance, walking slowly from the trailer. She moved far enough away for us to open the trailer the calf was in. He was a little more eager to come out, running straight toward our vehicles calling for his mother. She responded immediately and they were able to find one another soon after- an amazing experience!!

White Rhino female and calf darting on Karongwe