South African vet tries novel treatment for injured rhino

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

South African vet tries novel treatment for injured rhino
Christopher Torchia, Associated Press
Updated 3:03 pm, Friday, August 14, 2015

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Veterinarians in South Africa have treated an injured rhino whose face was mutilated by poachers last week by fitting it with a bandage made of elephant leather.

Dr. Johan Marais, an equine and wildlife surgeon at the University of Pretoria, said Friday that he is experimenting with the elephant skin cover because plastic or fiberglass shields have proven too rigid to fit the contours of an injured rhino's face.

"We're looking for a material that's strong, lightweight but pliable," Marais said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

. . .

Marais belongs to Saving the Survivors, a group that treats rhinos with poaching injuries. Group spokeswoman Suzanne Boswell Rudham said the hide bandage was obtained by "ethical" means from a dead elephant that had not been poached or shot.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/science/article/South-African-vet-tries-novel-treatment-for-6444135.php

[840high]

1. k/r

[catchnrelease]

2. I hope it works

I've been following the progress of Hope, also mentioned in the article, another mutilation survivor the vets have been working on. They have tried skin grafts, fiberglass shields and although there as been a little improvement, nothing has been really successful. Maybe this elephant skin will do the trick. Hope is a toughie for sure, she seems to be handling the frequent knock-downs (tranquilizations) for treatments well so far. Fingers crossed that this one will do the same.

Thanks for the info!!