The video is a documentary-style narrative about the conservation efforts of Dr. William Fowlds and his team at the Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa. The team is focused on protecting the rhino population, which is under threat due to poaching for their horns, a practice that is driven by the belief in the horn's medicinal properties.
The narrative begins with the team's mission to dehorn a male white rhino, a procedure that is necessary due to the rhino's social behavior, which makes them an easy target for poachers. The team uses a helicopter to locate the rhino and a dart to tranquilize it. After the rhino is sedated, the team uses a chainsaw to clear a space around the animal, then administers a muscle relaxant to calm the rhino's heart rate and lower its adrenaline. The team then performs the dehorning procedure, which involves carefully removing the rhino's horn without damaging the root, a process that can be catastrophic if done incorrectly.
The team also performs an inter-hornal implant procedure on a black rhino, a more solitary species. The procedure involves implanting a GPS tracking system into the rhino's horn, which can be tracked using a drone. This technology is a non-invasive alternative to dehorning, which is a controversial and often harmful procedure.
The narrative concludes with a call to action, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and encouraging viewers to support conservation efforts. The team's work is part of a broader effort to protect the rhino population and prevent their extinction in the wild.
1. The text describes a journey to the Kariega Game Reserve, where a team is targeting a specific male rhino with a large horn.
2. The team is equipped with a helicopter, which allows them to cover a considerable amount of distance in a short period of time.
3. The rhino's social behavior, known as a "crash", is both a benefit and a drawback. It makes the rhinos easier to locate from an aerial perspective but also makes them an easier target for poachers.
4. The team is performing a dehorning procedure on the rhino. The horn is not ivory but keratin, the same material as fingernails and hair.
5. Poachers often cut the horn out all the way down to the root, causing massive bleeding and potentially killing the rhino.
6. The team is also performing an inter-hornal implant procedure on the black rhino, which involves disguising a GPS tracking system into the rhino's rear horn.
7. The team is working to protect the rhinos and their horns, and the implant technology could potentially change the face of conservation.
8. The text concludes with a call to action to prevent the loss of these vanishing giants by donating to the cause.