By Meghan Frank
Rock Center
Just days after we aired “Last Stand,” a Rock Center story on the epidemic of illegal rhino poaching in South Africa, we received horrible news. Poachers had attacked three of the rhinos featured in our report.
Our Rock Center investigation that aired in February looked at the dramatic spike in rhino poaching in South Africa. The rise in illegal poaching stems from a growing demand for rhino horn in Asia, where the horn is believed to be a miracle cure.
On the night of March 2, poachers targeted several rhinos that belonged to Graeme Rushmere, the owner of Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa. Veterinarian Will Fowlds, who was also featured in our story, rushed to the scene to try to save the injured rhinos. Fowlds found one of the rhinos dead at the scene, but the two others were still alive, clinging to life. Poachers had shot the rhinos with tranquilizer darts, hacked through their skulls with a machete to get every inch of their horns and left them to bleed to death.
Fowlds and the Kariega team began working around the clock to try to save the two surviving rhinos, a female rhino named Thandi and a male named Themba. Fowlds cleaned their wounds, injected them with antibiotics and gave them medicine to try to ease their pain. For weeks Fowlds and the game reserve staff monitored and tended to the rhinos, but after surviving for nearly a month, Themba died from his injuries. Thandi is still alive.
The traumatic experience of trying to save these severely injured rhinos has been heartbreaking for Fowlds, but it’s also been a call to arms.
“I made a promise to a dead rhino, his name was Themba, that I would make every single day, all 24 days of suffering, count, that I would do everything in my ability to turn suffering into a pain-free future for other rhino,” Fowlds said.
Themba’s death is part of a scourge that’s threatening the rhinos in South Africa and the species as a whole. Already this year poachers have slaughtered more than 170 rhinos for their valuable horns.
Rhino horn has long been prescribed to cure fevers and colds in traditional Asian medicine, but demand in recent years has skyrocketed, and some experts believe this is due to a rumor circulating in Vietnam that rhino horn cures cancer. Scientists have found rhino horn’s medicinal value to be next to nonexistent, but demand continues to grow and the price of rhino horn rises with it. Gram for gram, rhino horn can be more valuable than gold or cocaine.
South Africa is trying every means possible to protect the species, but poachers are wiping out rhinos at a rate of more than one a day and conservationists fear the poaching will continue to rise. Already the killing this year is poised to outpace last year’s record death toll of 448 rhinos.
Fowlds says he is trying not to get thrown into a state of despair by the figures.
“The fear of where this is heading could quite easily paralyze us if we don't remain focused on that which we are able to do. In this war, being fought on so many sides, the most important thing is for each one of us to take care of our portion of the frontline,” Fowlds said.
At the moment, Will Fowld’s frontline is tending to the wounds of Thandi, who is still fighting against all odds to stay alive.
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As long as ignorant, stupid people from Asia continue to offer high prices for Rhino and Elephant parts (as well as other endangered animals) poaching will continue unabated! It seems, no amount of education, is enough to get these people to understand that science has PROVEN, beyond a shadow of a doubt, ground-Rhino horn does NOT enhance sexual prowess.. They are just too dumb and illiterate to get it through their heads!
Perhaps if the WHO (World Health Organization) and Pfizer (the makers) were to provide Viagra free to these 3rd world countries, they would no longer be interested in going after animals that are very close to becoming extinct.. However, these people are so hide-bound and so ingrained with the 'idea' that animals parts increase their libido that I seriously doubt if they would even try Viagra!
When the poachers are caught they need to have their skulls chopped through and let them bleed to death.
Sure hope the surviving rhino makes a good recovery. What was done is horrible.
Having recently returned from the San Diego Safari Zoo from our Spring Vacation, our family has gained a profound respect for rhinos. They are truly one of the most amazing creatures God has placed on this earth! More importantly, our children, who are Asian Americans, are appalled to hear of the uses. Education is surely needed throughout the world, especially in Asia! We pledge to do what we can to help the cause to save the rhinos. We encourage others to do the same! This cause should go viral...
When will we learn not to put things that will entice morons in public view?
Happens every time, someone will see something on tv or wherever and go after it
We have to do something about the demand for these things before we can stop people from killing them. No money, no need
I live close to Kariega and have followed Dr Fowlds heartbreaking journey. All local residents are appallled at the brutal attack on these (and all other SA rhino) but I think, by their geographical proximity, the attack on Thandi and her 2 deceased friends has hit our little part of the Eastern Cape very hard. No longer can any of us view rhino poaching as an abstract, something that happens elsewhere, it is a scourge that is killing the animals that we love......... please join our fight to stop rhino poaching.. The Kariega facebook page will give you more info on what YOU can do to help us save all SA rhino: Please visit the page and help spread the word and donate towards the Thandi initiative, these funds are to be used to treat other rhino who survive the poachibf scourge!
Why can't the horns be removed and an artificial one replace it. Dentists put screws into the bone of peoples mouths and put in teeth, why not for Rhinos as well as Elephants and why would they have to be white? Make them black so those monsters who kill for just money will know. I have seen some pictures in some areas of Africa that the horns have been removed and not replaced. So tragic.
If we continue to extinct God's creation through unnatural order we will extinct ourselves in the end. Flora and Fauna are all connected. Murder/poaching is unnatural.
someone really needs to let them know the real cure for cancer is poachers penis!!
Hey, great idea!
Would it not be possible to safely remove the horn in captivity to prevent the attacks I know that in the wild it is necessary but is it worse to remove the horn and save their life or take chances with poachers?
The Rock Center just came short of placing a GPS on each Rhino killed.......duh!
I would like to see NBC do more coverage on the Rhino poaching. This exposure has reached so many that would not have otherwise known what was happening. They need our help. It is a worldy effort to help South Africa. I hope everyone views this as a team effort.
Human Beings are the scourge of the planet.
I was there. I had Thandi and Themba's blood on my hands. I saw the horror of it all. It needs to stop.
As a volunteer at the Kariega Game Reserve at the time of Themba and Thandi's poaching, I was able to witness firsthand the horrors of the situation. Rhino poaching is cruel, increasingly uncontrollable, and hopelessly pointless. The situation seems dire indeed, but there is always hope. We need to do as much as we can to raise awareness to the situation, because awareness will bring change. Check out the Kariega Game Reserve's Facebook page for links to places where you can donate as well as frequent updates on Thandi's health. Dr. Fowlds is an incredible, inspirational man who writes wonderful updates that will inspire you to help Thandi and the rest of the rhinos.
Also, look on Youtube to see more videos from the Kariega poaching as well as a heartbreaking video made by the Kariega rangers called "United We Stand".
Boycott asian products. They'll get the message!
I had tuned in to Rock Center to watch the piece on Costco, and then Brian said, "I need to warn you that what you're about to see has some disturbing images." Well, that was an understatement! I can usually watch most videos with a certain amount of equanimity, but I was totally unprepared to see the horrible mutilation these poor animals had suffered--especially since they were so gorgeous and healthy. My heart goes out to the people caring for them. I cannot imagine the pain they are in--I cried for at least 15 minutes after watching, and I'm crying while I write this, in fact. My own personal feeling is that the miserable wretches who would do such a thing, especially for money, don't deserve to live, but that's my opinion. I HAVE to do something to help prevent it from happening. I don't know what that might be, but this horror cannot continue! It's a shame we can't cut the poachers' noses off, but that won't bring back any of those wonderful creatures, and once they're gone, they are gone forever. I hope their DNA is going into a cryo- bank somewhere.
where do we go from here?? what can we do?? How do we start?? never been so called to action as I was when I saw this piece last night.