Almost a year after an attack on three rhinos at Kariega Game Reserve Thandi, the only survivor, is almost back to her usual self.
Almost a year after an attack on three rhinos at Kariega Game Reserve Thandi, the only survivor, is almost back to her usual self.
Last March, poachers savagely hacked off the rhinos' horns.
One rhino died immediately from its injuries, but Themba and Thandi survived and have been the face of a nationwide campaign against poaching in South Africa.
Themba has since died, but Thandi has made a full recovery.
Today, Thandi’s face has completely healed and she is acting like a normal rhino again after her traumatic experience.
“She is doing brilliantly. She is even allowing vehicles to get close again,” said Murray Finlay, marketing manager at the reserve.
The reserve received overwhelming support for the rhino’s plight, and consequently created the Save The Rhino fund which helped finance the medical bills for the Thandi and Themba, protection and anti-poaching measures.
Today, Thandi lives and the game reserve has taken a severe, yet necessary stand against the dehorning epidemic.
In response to the incident, Kariega has taken “an extreme measure” to deter the poachers by removing the rest of their rhinos' horns.
“It was a horrific decision to make, but it gives them a better chance of surviving,” Finlay explained. “It was the last resort,” he said, “but we wanted our visitors to see the rhino.”
