Latest News 05 May 09

Black Rhino Introduction - APNR  27 April 09 We had the privilege of being part of a APNR rhino exchange this week. After a two week wait of being on stand by, they were not quite sure when the black rhino would be captured and crated.  Mario and Colin Rowles from Klaserie got the call on Thursday to  say it was a go for Friday evening.  APNR received two beautiful black rhino bulls from Swaziland in exchange for One white bull taken from Klaserie, One cow taken from Balule and the other cow from Timbavati.  ORGR donated a Rhino cow known as “Top Notch" on behalf of Balule. Top Notch The two black rhino were released into Klaserie on Copenhagen the first one five kms south of the second one which was approximately 2km from Balule south’s western boundary, both at waterholes.  The Capture team of Andre the vet, and Kestel the head of the very efficient game capture company handled the release of the black rhino really well. The capture of the White rhino went equally well and by late yesterday the cow was on her way to her new home in Swaziland, the Bull had been captured on Saturday, and had already been taken to Swaziland on the same day. The Timbavati cow should also be there either today or tomorrow. Most of the pictures below were kindly supplied by Tony Burgess and his wife. The Balance were taken by Janine Scorer

Crate being offloaded from truck Rhino no 1	Vet on top of crate looking in at Rhino
Vet happy with what he sees and gives rhino tranquilizer	This was the container being re loaded after the operation
Re loading the empty container	Rhino now tranquilised they hook a rope around the back foot and one around the chest neck area this will act as a break when they walk the Rhino out the other end.
	The break ropes being used while getting the Rhino out of the front of the container
The Rhino is now given the remainder of the drug to ensure that it does not take too long to drop on the ground asleep.	The Rhino is now asleep he was already blindfolded in the crate to minimise stress.
Antibiotic’s are injected and certain measurements and blood samples are taken	On Lookers from Olifants, Janine Scorer, Karen Trendler, Mario Cesare and Tony Burgess .
Andre (Vet) Kestel (game capture co) Mario (Olifants) Colin ( Klaserie)	Mario chatting to the vet
from a parasite called Valeria which lays eggs under the Rhino’s skin this is only on black rhino and these marks are often used to id the rhino as they are different on each rhino.	Sore feet from being in the crate
This Spoor was found this morning	on ingwe drive about a km before big dam
Is this one of our new black rhino?	Next time you visit and see a Rhino on Olifants double check to see if it is a white or a black Rhino

Latest news 05 May 09

Dear All. I thought that you may be interested in an update on the movement of the younger black rhino bull. As one can see from the attached map, he was fitted with a good pair of shoes before release. Evidence of the older bull has been found at various locations on Copenhagen in the KPNR during the past week.   Best regards   C.L. Rowles (Warden Klaserie PNR)