Day 2: Nyala relocation, Moholoholo and Mangoes!

 This morning was organized chaos with 13 of us trying to eat breakfas and pack lunches in time for our 7:00 am departure, but everyone was good-natured and ready on time! We worked here of the reserve where we are staying this morning, relocating 4 young nyala rams. These young males were still with the breeding herd and the dominant ram, putting them at risk for injury due to competition. So we darted each of them and moved them to a different camp (large enclosure) on the property so that they were not competing with an established ram. 

We all packed into Jessica's game viewer ("buggy") and went to the nyala breeding camp and put out some feed for them. Since it is winter here, supplemental feeding is common to keep herds in top condition since the grasses are dormant. Being used to being fed, the animals came right up to the feeding area, making it fairly easy to find our young rams. Rita sat in the front passenger seat and first filled a dart with the combination of drugs to be used--a combination of a fast-acting strong sedative, a drug to help counteract stress, and a very strong opioid. Then she confirmed her target, sighted out the truck window, and darted the first ram. As always when hit by a dart, he started running through the underbrush. Keeping him in sight can be a challenge, but he didn't run too far before he lay down. We all poured out of the truck carrying our stretcher (piece of tarp with handles). First priority is to position the animal upright on its chest with its head up and nose pointing downward. This helps prevent fluid from the mouth or rumen from being aspirated into the lungs. Then the tongue is pulled out to the side so that it doesn't block the airway and the animal can breathe well. An injection of a longer-acting mild sedative was given to help keep the ram calm as he recovered and acclimated to his new home Next, each was given an injection of anti-parasite medication and a vitamin combination to help combat stress. Then 2 separate IV injections were given into the ear veins (convenient to access); the first reverses the action of the sedative in the dart, and the second reverses the opioid. Once the second IV injection is administered, the animal wakes up typically within less than 1 minute, so everyone has to be ready and out of the way. Then it's back to the buggy to repeat with the next animal.

The second ram decided that he did not want to go down. He ran for several minutes, then disappeared among the brush and we could not find him. After driving around for a few minutes looking for him, we chose the area where he was most likely to be, lined up along one border a few feet apart, and did a line sweep search for him. As luck would have it, Rita found him at the very far edge of our search area. He wasa picked up and loaded onto the buggy, and we drove one more circuit to pick up the remaining students. Then the same procedure as before, medicating, relocating, and reversing the sedation.

The final ram turned out to have an abscess on his side, probably as a result of having been horned by another nyala. So we brought him to a central location to surgically open and treat the abscess, and added a long-acting antibiotic to his treatment program. 

Georgia stepped up to be our abscess surgeon. First she opened the fist-sized swelling with a scalpel blade where it felt softest. a small amount of pus drained out, but the swellin did not decrease much in size. Exploring the wound with a gloved finger, Georgia was able to determine that part of the abscess was walled off separately, so she made a connecting incision and drained a large amount of pus from the wound. All possible pus was removed, then the inside of the abscess was flushed with a disinfectant solution, and all debris scrubbed out. A final flush, treatment with an antiseptic and insecticidal ointment (to prevent re-infection or maggot infestation), a coating of wound healing spray and an antibiotic injection, and he was ready to complete his journey to the camp where his peers had been relocated.

After a lunch break, we headed out once again, this time to Moholoholo wildlife rehabilitation center and to the mango store (one of my favorite places!).

At Mango Mohlatsi, we bought dried fruit and locally made fruit and nut products, and site-made frozen yogurt (deliciious!). Then everybody passed around their purchases for all to try--it was quite a food party! I stocked up on my favorite fruit lollies--dried fruit puree pieces about the size of a short finger, coated with sugar! I suspect that the store owner was pretty glad we had come!

From there, we went to Moholoholo wildlife rehabilitation center, where we learned more about several species being helped. A walk-around showed us many animals that are unable to be released into the wild, so they are permanent residents: Black, fish and African eagles, another southern ground hornbill, and 4 species of vultures. Then a pair of white lions, several cheetahs, a pair of African wild dogs, a pair of spotted hyenas, several young leopards, and a black leopard (also known as a black panther). We visited with the famous Stoeffel the honey badger (he is world famous!), a serval (medium-sized wild cat) and a caracal (another medium sized cat).

One of the unexpected highlights of our visit to Moholoholo was touring the facility along with a group of Michgan State University students and their professors. They were part of the MSU Overseas Study program based at the Southern African Wildlife College--apparently we Spartans get around! This was a great chance for our students to talk to college students, and to begin some networking. El was specifically interested as she is involved in MSU's Lyman Briggs program, which is the sponsor of this experience! She is hoping to arrange an interesting internship for her zoology degree, and this provided her with some valuable leads!

Another spectacular sunset on the way back to the lodge, where another excellent meal awaited us: Chicken schnitzel, scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, and salad, with chocolate caramel dessert. After eating ourselves to a state of near coma, everybody headed to bed. 

Tomorrow we are having breakfast together at 7:00, and leaving at 8:00 for darting practice. We will all learn to handle the dart gun safely and hit a stationary target. I was very intimidated by this at first, but now am looking forward to a chance to improve my aim and skill. 

I wish you could watch this amazing group of students. They are already working together as a well-honed machine, looking out for one another and providing steady care of our patients. They are taking on challenges, stepping up and trying (and re-trying) new skills, and overall working as skilled help. I hope that they realize how capable they all are, and that they will gain the confidence to tackle other difficult new things.

Pork butt, anyone?! These 4 warthogs were resting near the entrance to Moholoholo as we left.