Posts tagged “Conservation”

Today our thoughts go back to that dreadful day two years ago when we found our three rhinos after poachers had attacked them. We think about our unnamed bull that died during the night, the fight for survival and tragic death of Themba and the amazing recovery of Thandi.

The Kariega Conservation Volunteers were involved in 11 game releases or introductions on the reserve, as well as 11 captures and darting procedures. Read all about it here.

From January to August 2013 about 5257 invasive pine trees and 7453 invasive black wattles were removed from Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape by the Kariega Conservation Volunteers. In addition, about 4680 'miracle trees' (Spekboom) were planted!

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..."

We received this message from Dr Fowlds this morning. Although it is sad news, we are still positive about Thandi's health and recovery and are sure that her resilience and fighting spirit will prevail. A massive thank you to Dr Fowlds for all your amazing work for Thandi, and all the very hard decisions you have had to make throughout the recovery period. We have no doubt that she could not be in better hands. Thank you too to the surgical doctors, Drs Johan Marias and Alistair Lamont, who flew up from Gauteng without charge to check on Thandi, as well as to Idexx who will be doing Thandi's blood tests. On the bright side, we will be holding thumbs that blood results will reveal she is pregnant!

Thandi the rhino at Kariega Game Reserve has undergone many surgeries and treatments since her horn was hacked off in March last year. This morning, 19 months after she was poached, the Kariega team and Thandi's doctors are preparing for what we hope will be her last treatment procedure.

WildAid documentary on rhino and elephant poaching to air in China, and Dr William Fowlds attends a conference in Vietnam on raising awareness about rhino poaching, hosted by the Department of Vietnam Forestry and Humane Society International (HSI).

If you're coming to Kariega Game Reserve on safari and would like to know more about rhino poaching and rhino conservation, our rangers are all knowledgeable on the topic and are happy to help with any questions you may have. You can also head down to the Curio Shop at Main Lodge for a range of rhino merchandise on sale with proceeds to rhino conservation.

August was a month full of exciting and totally unexpected wildlife encounters and sightings. We were surprised and amazed by the African bush and its wide diversity of inhabitants almost every day of this month.

Kariega Game Reserve Conservation Volunteers honoured National Arbor Week this week by planting the 'miracle tree of the century' - Spekboom - and working on eradicating some alien invasive tree species.