NOTE: We only organise conservation experiences for safari guests when there is a real need for such operations. No conservation experiences will be organised if no interventions are required during your visit, or if dates and availability of vets, helicopter, fixed wing plane, municipal authority or reserve staff do not align - so as to not waste resources or cause unnecessary distress to wildlife.

Long standing Wild Wonderful World supporter Chris and his family sponsored and attended a rhino dehorning procedure on Thornybush Game Reserve during a recent safari to South Africa. With the majority of this population already dehorned, rhino dehorning or horn trimming operations nowadays are mostly follow-ups of previously dehorned individuals, as the horn regrows in 18-24 months after prior trimming of the horn. However, the fixed wing pilot spotted an adult cow with a massive horn, the shape and the size of the horn indicating that she had not been dehorned before. This shows how important regular patrols and follow ups are to ensure that the entire rhino population on a reserve has been horn-trimmed, to ensure effectiveness of this last-resort conservation tactic.

We thank Chris and Anna for funding this operation and their continued support to conservation projects in the Greater Kruger Region.

Contact us to add a conservation experience to your next African Safari.