Rhino Thandi and Family

Part II in a four part blog about the poaching of Thandi and Themba at Kariega Game Reserve, of the people closest to them, and of their path to recovery and struggle in the fight against poaching. Written by local journalist, Lauren Flynn.

This story is about the poaching of three rhinos at Kariega, but it is also a story about the people on the ground and their involvement in the treatment of these animals and their part in the desperate fight against poaching. The story has been broken up into four parts which we will be sharing with you over the next few days.

Yesterday a small press conference was held at Kariega Game Reserve to inform our local media and supporters of the great news that Thandi is pregnant. Thank you to all who made it out to the reserve to share this special moment with us, and thank you to Alan, Jason, Dr Fowlds and Jo for organising the event.

Kariega Game Reserve is most pleased to announce that recent blood results reveal Thandi is pregnant! Wildlife vet Dr William Fowlds, who has been by Thandi's side since she was poached in March 2012 comments...

This short clip was uploaded by documentary filmmaker Rian van der Walt when he recently visited Kariega Game Reserve to shoot for 'Heroes of the Rhino War' - a project in collaboration with the Wilderness Foundation to tell the inspirational and at times heartbreaking stories of the unsung heroes in the war against poaching.

We were happy to receive this update from Thandi's keeper, and Kariega Game Reserve operations manager Jason Loest: "She is doing fine and is calm and relaxed and although one never truly knows what an animal might be feeling I would have to say she looks quite content. She is displaying an almost inquisitive nature by..."

On 18 October Simon Jones, founder of the NGO Helping Rhinos, paid a visit to Thandi - a big part of his inspiration for starting a great organisation geared to rhino conservation and awareness. Simon spent six weeks in the Kariega Conservation Volunteer Programme, and recently returned to the reserve to see Thandi. He took some lovely images. Thank you Simon for sharing, and for the great work you do through Helping Rhinos.