African Wildlife Vets

  • Home
  • African Wildlife Vets

African Wildlife Vets A wildlife veterinary non-profit organisation

29/12/2025

🦏 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Dehorning Series | Part 8: The Wake-Up

This is the final step in the dehorning process.

Once the horn removal and processing are complete, the team administers the reversal drug, allowing the rhino to regain consciousness safely. Within minutes, it’s back on its feet — monitored closely to ensure a smooth recovery and minimal stress.

Every stage of this operation is designed with one goal in mind: to protect rhinos and give them the best chance of survival in the wild. 💚

What did you enjoy most about this series? Let us know in the comments 👇

WildlifeProtection RhinoProtection VetLife SavingRhinos WildlifeConservation

17/12/2025

🦏 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Dehorning Series | Part 7: Processing the Rhino

With the horn safely removed, attention turns to processing the rhino — a vital step in ensuring its well-being and gathering valuable conservation data.

The team works swiftly to record measurements, collect DNA samples, and monitor vital signs — all while keeping the animal calm and stable. Every detail helps strengthen protection strategies for rhinos across Africa.

Travel with purpose! 🦏🌍 Join our 2026 Impact Safari — a once-in-a-lifetime journey where you’ll witness real wildlife co...
16/12/2025

Travel with purpose! 🦏🌍

Join our 2026 Impact Safari — a once-in-a-lifetime journey where you’ll witness real wildlife conservation in action alongside African Wildlife Vets.

📍 Zululand, South Africa
🗓️ 16–24 March 2026 | 17–25 June 2026
✉️ Limited spaces available - enquire now: [email protected]

11/12/2025

🦏 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Dehorning Series | Part 6: Horn Removal

This is the moment everything builds up to - the removal of the horn.

Under the skilled hands of our veterinary team, the process is done quickly, carefully, and completely pain-free. Precision tools and teamwork ensure the rhino is safe throughout, with every step focused on protection and preservation.

It’s never easy to take away what makes these animals so iconic but it’s a necessary act to keep them alive. 💚

🦏🌿Last week, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife field rangers responded to a report from visitors who had noticed a white rhino bull ...
10/12/2025

🦏🌿Last week, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife field rangers responded to a report from visitors who had noticed a white rhino bull with a snare. The snare had gotten stuck under the base of the posterior horn and required immediate veterinary attention. The field rangers kept a close eye on the rhino, making it easy for Dr Rowan Leeming and pilot Etienne Ge**er of Heligistix to locate it and successfully dart it.

The snare was removed, resulting in the full horn being removed as well. The wounds were treated and he is expected to recover well without further damage to the horn growth-bed.

A huge thank you to Blankets for Baby Rhinos for their support with our Emergency Fund and enabling us to respond to operations like these.



🚁 & 📸

03/12/2025

🦏 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Dehorning Series | Part 5: Going Down

Once the rhino has been darted, the clock starts ticking.
In this episode, Dr. Rowan Leeming walks us through what happens in those crucial moments as the rhino goes down — from monitoring breathing and positioning, to ensuring the animal’s safety and comfort before the dehorning begins.

27/11/2025

🦏 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Dehorning Series | Part 4: Darting

Precision, timing, and teamwork - this is where it all comes together.

In this episode, helicopter pilot Etienne Ge**er and veterinarian Dr. Jen Lawrence take us through the critical moment of darting - where every second counts. From spotting and positioning in the air to ensuring the rhino’s safety on the ground, this is conservation at its most intense and exacting.

Behind every successful dehorning is a team that moves as one. 💚

25/11/2025

African Wildlife Vets with support from Rodel Finance XContent (Pty) Ltd and Blankets for Baby Rhinos and in collaboration with Wild Wonderful World recently assisted Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife with the notching of 10 white rhinos. Through this support we were able to cover the helicopter time needed for the operation - an essential component in ensuring the safety and success of each procedure.

Notching plays a vital role in rhino conservation and management. Every rhino in a small protected area needs to be individually identifiable. This helps conservation teams keep track of important details such as where each rhino moves, how often females give birth and how individuals interact with one another.

Veterinarian: Dr Rowan Leeming
Pilot: Grant Pengilly
🦏🌿

20/11/2025

🦏 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Dehorning Series | Part 3: Chopper Work

This week, we join pilot Etienne Ge**er, whose skill and calm under pressure make him an essential part of every dehorning operation. From locating rhinos in dense bush to guiding the ground teams safely in, the chopper is the eye in the sky that keeps everything moving.

It’s fast, focused, and absolutely vital to the mission of protecting Africa’s rhinos. 💚

ConservationInAction RhinoProtection ChopperWork AerialConservation

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when African Wildlife Vets posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to African Wildlife Vets:

Shortcuts

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?

Share