Three rhinos perished in an unfortunate incident after being stuck in a mud for three days at Sandveld Nature Reserve north west of the province. The animals apparently went to their natural drinking hole where they accidentally walked into a mud patch normally caused by the low levels of water in a dam on Sunday, 18 August 2013.
The animals were discovered by rhino guards on Tuesday 20th and had apparently sustained serious muscle injuries in their efforts to escape from the mud. The game capture team as well as a vetenary surgeon were immediately summoned to the scene and with the help of the heavy machines tried to pull the animals out of the mud.
The first animal died on Wednesday the 21st, the second one on Friday the 23rd and the last one on Sunday the 25th whilst under the care of the vet and management of the reserve. The forth animal, though also seriously injured in the process, has been saved. The horns of the rhinos have been kept in safe place in accordance with approved norms and standards.
Sandveld Nature Reserve is situated on the shores of Bloemhof Dam which lies at the confluence of the Vaal and Vet rivers on the border between Free State and North West provinces. The reserve is roughly 37 000 hectors big and is named after sandy soils and is rich with thorn veld savanna and the camel thorn trees.
For media enquiries:
Kgotso Tau
Tel: 051 400 9542
Cell:082 833 9595
E-mail: tauk@detea.fs.gov.za
