Mozambique: Population growth in Bazaruto Park worries authorities
All photos: Twitter / @SavingSurvivors
STS Mozambique responded to a call for assistance from the head rangers in Maputo Special Reserve to immobilise and free an adult Hippo from a cable snare.
Hippo chemical immobilisation is still “art” in the making, due to the complex amphibious life of this mammal and its inherent risks of drowning when anaesthetised.
Recent developments in drug combinations managed to achieve some degree of immobilisation whilst not suppressing the breathing reflex, however this also means that Hippos are not really under deep anaesthesia which represents a serious danger to the teams handling them in the muddy dark waters where they usually live.
Dr. Joao and Dr. Hagnesio assisted by reserve staff, darted the giant Hippo and following a few minutes of tension they managed to close the animals mouth using a rope and pulled its head to shore.
The double cable was cut and surprisingly had not caused any damage to the animals skin. However, the cable was attached to a heavy log (purposely to slowly exhaust the animal until it gets stuck somewhere) meaning that the Hippos movements have been severely restricted for at least 2 weeks causing a severe decrease in its body condition.
After freeing the animal the antidote was injected in the tongue (only muscle available – note that the hippos skin can be 6 cm thick) and we were happy to see it swim away from the team, freed from the snare.
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We would like to thank all our partners in this mission, Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação, Maputo Special Reserve, Peace Parks Foundation, Ford South Africa and Craghoppers.
STS Mozambique rescue a Hippo caught in a poachers snare. Read the full story and others in our Bush Journals – https://t.co/yAP4B6MVxo #savingthesurvivors #creatinghopefromhurt pic.twitter.com/OojXLr5teQ
— Saving The Survivors (@SavingSurvivors) October 27, 2020
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