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Baby white rhino born to poaching victims
Saving the Survivors treat rhino horn injuries using human dressings covered with elephant leather.

Parents saved by wildlife rescue charity Saving the Survivors

Conservationists have hailed the arrival of a baby white rhino as a ‘huge victory’ for the species, which is listed on the IUCN Red List as ‘Near Threatened’.

The rhino (not pictured) was born to two rescued victims of poaching in Limpopo, South Africa. The mother, Lucky, sustained gunshot wounds to her shoulder while the father, Seha, received horrific wounds to his nasal cavity after poachers hacked out his horns.

Wildlife charity Saving the Survivors said the injury Seha suffered in 2016 is one of the worst poaching-related injuries known, especially since he survived the attack. Having treated similar injuries over the last seven years, the charity managed to persuade Seha’s owner not to have him put down.

Rhino horn injuries pose a huge challenge to veterinary surgeons. Any wild animal mutilation has its complications, but the process is made even more complicated in situations like Seha's, where the wounds become infected and cannot be closed. 

Saving the Survivors treat rhino horn injuries using human dressings covered with elephant leather. The leather is thought to contain the right moisture level and enzymes to aid recovery and acts as a bandage to keep the dressings in place.

Currently, the wounds take around two to three years to heal. But Saving the Survivors are working with colleagues in Europe to explore new methods and technologies, which will help to speed up the process. This includes the use of 3D scanners and printers to create facial masks.

While past victims of poaching-related injuries were often euthanised, Saving the Survivors have managed to save more than 65 per cent of the animals they have treated.


“The recovery for poaching victims like Lucky and Seha must address not only physical concerns but also psychological,” the charity said.

“Re-introduction to other rhinos is an essential part of their recovery. The mating of two poaching victims is both a huge victory and a statement of their progress, as well as a promising sign of re-populating this near threatened species.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.