Conservation volunteers lucky to witness white rhino airlift in KZN

The recent white rhino airlift conducted by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife was an amazing sight to see. The Hluhluwe conservation volunteers Tieran Freedman, Tom Wilkie, Debora Studer, Ann DePuy and Sindhuja Sunder were lucky enough to witness the event which took place in South Africa.

Game capture and relocation is done for the benefit of the species and to ensure the strength of future bloodlines. It is a complex procedure and is only done when absolutely necessary.

Thankfully the techniques used for rhino capture and relocation have significantly improved in recent years, gone are the days of large drug doses and corralling a dazed animal into a convenient location. As strange as it may seem airlifts are the best way to move these massive creatures, it allows them to be captured from any location; the rhino spends less time under anaesthetic and ultimately endures less stress from the procedure. The significant improvement in this area has led to a marked increase in the success of relocating white rhino.

Photos: Megan Lategan and Bronwen Kelly

Rhino suspened from a helicopter

A rhino being airlifted.

Volunteers with sedated rhino

Conservation volunteers feeling a sedated rhino.








Volunteers watching the suspended rhino. Volunteers watching a rhino being sedated Volunteers watching a rhino airlift