Modjadji – Mabula Game Lodge was the scene of a dramatic rhino rescue recently, where a mother rhino with a 16 month-old calf, got stuck in a sticky situation.
The drama started when it was radioed in that there was a rhino stuck in the clay in Tamboti dam on the Modjadji side in the North of the Mabula Private Game Reserve. Modjadji mainly consists of quartzite based soil which is fine grained to begin with. Add to that that Tamboti dam is on the old course of the Blom River and has all the drainage lines emptying into it from the plains above. What’s more is that it was historically over utilised due to cattle farming in the area causing severe erosion. This results in very clayey silt in and around the dam.
The Rhino known as TDi (derived from the engine type of most of the Land Rovers on the Reserve) most probably had a drink of water and then promptly sank into the clay. The consistency of the clay is reminiscent of quicksand in that her struggles probably got her into more trouble as the thick clay creates a suction effect.
The problem how to get two tons of frustrated, frightened pachyderm, with a sharp end, out of this mess. What made the situation even worse was that she has a calf of 15 – 16 months of age that was nowhere to be found. They are usually only weaned at 18 months with some cases stretching to two years. Times was of the essence, as this rhino calf needed her mother and because it is known that animals trapped in similar situations often die quickly, due to stress and exhaustion.
All efforts to get her out amounted to nothing so the vet was summoned. He sedated her and this allowed the rangers to dig around and below her to fasten the belt around her trunk. The front end loader on the tractor was then used to eventually extricate her from the stranglehold of the mud. The belt was removed and she was given a booster shot to recover to full consciousness as we all hopped pell-mell onto any vehicle we could find. She hobbled off in obvious pain and discomfort albeit amidst hearty cheers from all involved. What seemed fleeting turned out to be a 7 hour rescue mission. Everybody’s worst fears were confirmed – the calf was missing. For two days everyone was looking for but could find neither hide nor hair.
Miraculously though, she was seen on an evening three days later all the way to the South, united with her calf seeming none the worse for wear except from being caked in mud. This has left all involved feeling very accomplished after all the efforts put into the rescue.
