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Preparation for the Northern White Rhino Translocation
Preparation for the Northern White Rhino Translocation
by Jimmy Greenwod, December 18th, 2009
Four of the last remaining eight Northern White Rhino subspecies on the planet are being moved from a zoo in Eastern Europe to Ol Pejeta Conservancy on the Kenya’s Laikipia plateau. On the eve of the Rhinos’ departure from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, everything is going according to plan – but the atmosphere is tense. The four rhinos Sudan, Suni, Fatu and Najin (pronounced Naiyin) had their last outing on Czech soil yesterday in a light scattering of snow.
A mixture of sand and salt was thrown down for when Fatma and Najin ventured out for half an hour.
The temperature has been dropping daily and it snowed more heavily last night. It had already been decided to keep the rhinos indoors today to keep them calm in preparation for their journey tomorrow (Saturday), and in fact none of the Zoo’s other rhinos went outside today either.
The zoo has some brand new additions.. two black rhino calves have been born here in the last 6 weeks.
The staff here at the zoo are fantastic and although there is mixed feelings about the rhinos departure (there was a small demonstration yesterday by a few locals) – the rhino curators recognise that it is the best thing for them to be moved to Africa.
The enclosures are all pretty small for the animals here, particularly the large mammals most of which exhibit some signs of “zoo syndrome”, tirelessly pacing well-worn paths. The rhinos are the lucky ones… bound for the wide expanses of their motherland, three of the four were born in the zoo here. Only the oldest male, Sudan was born in the wild and captured in 1975 in the upper Nile swamp area of Southern Sudan aged two. But it will be a long and arduous journey full of unfamiliar sounds, smells and feelings… This is why two of the top rhino people on the planet have been brought in to help.
Pete Morkel a top wildlife veterinarian who is freelance but works a lot with the Frankfurt Zoological Society is from Namibia and specialises in rhino. Walking through inspecting the crates yesterday, Pete was initially a bit concerned that they had been built slightly smaller than his specifications and they contemplated using an old crate for Sudan, but the new ones are so well made, it was decided that it would be fine. He instructed that the securing nuts and bolts be replaced with locktite ones as the ones provided looked like they could easily work their way loose.
Pete has been gently sawing at Sudan's horn when he gets a chance. It is almost through, without using any sedative as he is so placid... you can just see the cutline on this picture. Hopefully there will be time when he is in the crate for Pete to cut the last bit and remove it.
The crates are now in position ready for the morning. An old crate has been acting as a tunnel at the end of rhino’s walkway entrance to their outside compound for some weeks in order for them to get used to the idea of walking into it. This has now been replaced with the first new crate and the other crates have been placed close by in the compound so that the whole procedure can happen as quickly as possible and they spend as short a time possible in the crates. The two females Fatu and Najin who are mother and daughter, will be moved first at dawn with two crates on each truck travelling to the airport.
by Jimmy Greenwod, December 18th, 2009
Four of the last remaining eight Northern White Rhino subspecies on the planet are being moved from a zoo in Eastern Europe to Ol Pejeta Conservancy on the Kenya’s Laikipia plateau. On the eve of the Rhinos’ departure from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, everything is going according to plan – but the atmosphere is tense. The four rhinos Sudan, Suni, Fatu and Najin (pronounced Naiyin) had their last outing on Czech soil yesterday in a light scattering of snow.
The temperature has been dropping daily and it snowed more heavily last night. It had already been decided to keep the rhinos indoors today to keep them calm in preparation for their journey tomorrow (Saturday), and in fact none of the Zoo’s other rhinos went outside today either.
The zoo has some brand new additions.. two black rhino calves have been born here in the last 6 weeks.
The staff here at the zoo are fantastic and although there is mixed feelings about the rhinos departure (there was a small demonstration yesterday by a few locals) – the rhino curators recognise that it is the best thing for them to be moved to Africa.
The enclosures are all pretty small for the animals here, particularly the large mammals most of which exhibit some signs of “zoo syndrome”, tirelessly pacing well-worn paths. The rhinos are the lucky ones… bound for the wide expanses of their motherland, three of the four were born in the zoo here. Only the oldest male, Sudan was born in the wild and captured in 1975 in the upper Nile swamp area of Southern Sudan aged two. But it will be a long and arduous journey full of unfamiliar sounds, smells and feelings… This is why two of the top rhino people on the planet have been brought in to help.
Pete Morkel a top wildlife veterinarian who is freelance but works a lot with the Frankfurt Zoological Society is from Namibia and specialises in rhino. Walking through inspecting the crates yesterday, Pete was initially a bit concerned that they had been built slightly smaller than his specifications and they contemplated using an old crate for Sudan, but the new ones are so well made, it was decided that it would be fine. He instructed that the securing nuts and bolts be replaced with locktite ones as the ones provided looked like they could easily work their way loose.
Berry White is a hugely experienced
rhino whisperer and carer who also came here to assist in the
relocation of three black rhino to Mkomazi, Tanzania earlier this
year. Berry has been spending a lot of time with the rhinos who are
completely at ease with her and reassured constantly by her voice and
touch.
Pete has been gently sawing at Sudan's horn when he gets a chance. It is almost through, without using any sedative as he is so placid... you can just see the cutline on this picture. Hopefully there will be time when he is in the crate for Pete to cut the last bit and remove it.
The crates are now in position ready for the morning. An old crate has been acting as a tunnel at the end of rhino’s walkway entrance to their outside compound for some weeks in order for them to get used to the idea of walking into it. This has now been replaced with the first new crate and the other crates have been placed close by in the compound so that the whole procedure can happen as quickly as possible and they spend as short a time possible in the crates. The two females Fatu and Najin who are mother and daughter, will be moved first at dawn with two crates on each truck travelling to the airport.
