Sables and More Sables

Today we worked with Rita again, with sable antelope. I took fewer pictures, because things were moving pretty fast at our first venue, and too many people were crowded around at the second stop. We didn't have to travel very far today, only over to Gravellotte, to tranquilize and load 17 sable antelope of various ages and sizes. When we arrived, we waited a long time for someone to come open the farm gate, but once we started work, things were organized and efficient. We divided into 2 teams of 3 students, and one team went out in the truck with Rita to retrieve tranquilized animals, usually 2 at a time, while the other team organized materials back at the trailers. When the truck brought the sables to the trailers, the students who had loaded them stayed with them to give them their vitamins, sedative and 2 reversal injections. The other team then got on the truck and went out again immediately to dart and retrieve more.

This herd was confined to a relatively small camp, but were much more skittish than the last sable we worked with. There was an old, thin sable cow who kept the herd running away from the vehicles. She was the only one of the group that was not being moved, which complicated things a great deal. We got the adults first, then juveniles, and eventually the smallest ones.

My view from the back of the truck heading out to dart and retrieve sable.

Treating sable inside the trailer.

We finished with all 17 by 2:30, which was great. The second-last run, Rita darted a juvenile and 3 babies, which made for a crowded ride back, but the team was completely up for it and efficient.

The second farm was a shorter job: Dart 4 baby sable so that the owners could ear tag, microchip and blood test them for inclusion into the breeding herd. Babies are a smaller target, and their drug absorption is less predictable than in adults, so this was a bit tricky. The sable herd was right up near the entrance, though, and quite used to vehicles and people, so they ran much less than the previous herd. The first two went down as expected, were treated and back up in a few short minutes. The third went down and was being treated when it stopped breathing. Physical chest compressions, stimulation, and reversal drugs eventually she came back. It took a bit longer and was a rougher recovery than the others. She finally got up and walked away. The fourth went to plan, and we were finished!

We were all completely covered in red dust, blood, drool, and in my case, jam from my sandwich, so getting back to the lodge in plenty of time for a shower was wonderful. So now we are all gathered, Jessica and baby Alexandrei as well, waiting for Jane to serve supper. She is making chicken and steak over the fire, fried potatoes, something else and chocolate cake! I am sooooo hungry! Lucia just carried potatoes through here, and my stomach is growling out loud.

Tomorrow we are going to Jessica's farm to tranquilize 4 giraffes--3 for transport and one to remove another snare. Thinking of snares, I posted a photo of my bangle (bracelet) that Lily and her brother craft from the wire used in illegal snares. They use the proceeds for education and countering snaring. I got nearly 60 requests! They don't have that many made yet, so I will have to have them send some.


I am excited about the giraffes; we are scheduled to do 2 more, and 2 RHINOS on Friday! We are doing so much cool vet work that we are running out of time to do all of the excursions! This is going to be a busy week!