Black Hawk lowers rhino down

After months and months of waiting and trying to relocate the rhino back onto the farm, it officially came to realisation with the help of a Black Hawk.

On Wednesday, August 22, the Black Hawk and an R44 chopper touched down on the farm just outside Middelburg for the relocation of the rhino.

The rhino being airlifted by a Black Hawk on Wednesday, August 22.

In the beginning of the year two rhino bulls got into a fight and the one bull pushed the other bull off a cliff.

The rhino fell down a cliff onto the neighbour’s farm, where he roamed for the last couple of months where he was taken care of.

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But it was time to get the rhino back on his owner’s farm, where he belongs. After trying several times to dart him and to move him with a trailer, it was time to go back to the drawing board and to see what else would work to move the rhino.

Ms Tersia Jooste (project coordinator from Saving the Survivors) together with Dr Johan Marais and his assistant, Dr Zöe Glyphis organised the whole operation and sponsorship to move the rhino back.

Mr Mark Jackson from Nelspruit is the owner of the Black Hawk chopper and his team did the lifting.
Mr John Cowley from eMalahleni made his R44 chopper available and did the darting.

Ms Melissa Kemp from MTPA was the official present for the whole operation.

Dr Nolan Landman from Witbank Veterinary Hospital and Dr Katja Koeppel from Onderstepoort were the two other vets that gave veterinarian assistance during the moving of the rhino.

Once the rhino was sedated he was lifted up into the air.

Mr Hendry Devine and his family looked after the rhino for the past seven months on his property.
The rhino was darted and he was strapped up and then hoisted up into the air.

“It’s the first time in world history that a Black Hawk helicopter lifted up a rhino,” said Mr Deon Cornelius.

Once he was placed back onto his farm, he was woken up and started walking around.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in moving of my rhino. I am so glad to have him back on my farm,” said Cornelius.