While on an early morning game drive I identified a distressed black rhino who I suspected was blind because she was tripping and knocking into bushes, I had seen her the evening before and she was doing the same thing, so I knew that something as definitely wrong. One of my friends, James, is a rhino caretaker at the northern white rhino enclosure, whom I knew from a previous video I had made. I called him and expressed my concerns. He was equally worried, so he called the rangers who patrol the area to assess the situation. We waited with the rhino until they arrived. The 3 rangers recognized the rhino as Thea a 3-year-old blind rhino who is well known to them. It seems she was abandoned by her mother Porini the day before. She might have gone to give birth or mate and Thea may have been a threat. I was feeling very worried for Thea, what would happen to her? We had seen a pride of 11 lions in the area the day before making this a bad situation for Thea.
The rangers thought they might be able to shift her towards her mothers area by clapping and using sound to direct her, however in the process she became more agitated. The rangers decided to let their supervisor know of the situation.
Later that morning James called me with some important news. He told me that the Ol Pejeta management and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) decided to translocate Thea to the endangered species enclosure and he invited me to be a part of it and video the whole thing! I was anxious but at the same time excited for what her fate would be. I was also worried because I did not know how the translocation would be executed. I was thankful and excited that she would be safe in a place where there would be adequate food and water away from predators.
I met with James at Morani where the translocation trucks were waiting for the vets Dr Mijele (KWS) and Dr Ngulu (Ol Pejeta). We travelled fast in a motorcade to the location where Thea was being monitored. I was surprised how many people made up the rescue team and how everyone knew what needed to be done and were all prepared. I knew my role – I was here to capture Thea’s story and the happy ending!
Once the team was ready, the vets approached Thea in their vehicle with caution to get within a close-enough range to dart her with a tranquiliser. She charged at them and bumped into the vehicle in her confusion. I was thankful no one was hurt and nor was she. We all followed her keeping a safe distance till the tranquiliser kicked in and immediately the vets got to work. The translocation trucks followed behind.
The team blindfolded Thea, gave her oxygen and cooled her with water while under sedation. During this time the crate was being deployed. Once deployed Theas head was placed into it with a rope tied around her horn to a van on the other side.
A reversal drug was given to Thea. As Thea woke up, she was pushed into the crate from behind and pulled forward by the van. I was in the van as it pulled her. She was so strong but with the help of the team pulling and the van, she finally made it in. I felt scared as she resisted. But eventually we got her in, the doors closed after her. I felt relieved that Thea was in without a major struggle.
With everyone ready and Thea secured in the crate we all moved to the endangered species enclosure a couple of kilometers away.
Thea’s crate was gently lowered onto the ground and was released into her new home. I felt happy for Thea as now she would be safe from predators like lions. A couple of weeks later and Porini (Thea’s Mother) finally surfaced with a newborn calf! Thea is settling into her new home.
I made a YouTube video on Thea’s Translocation Story, here is the link:
