EPIC FAIL: Rhino Dies In Anti-Poaching Demo By Conservationists

R.I.P Spencer

I just looked up the words “EPIC” and “FAIL” in the dictionary, and would you know, this story was listed underneath each description. Rhino Rescue Project, a South African conservation group demonstrating an anti-poaching method for reporters yesterday, accidentally killed the rhinoceros they were using in the demonstration.

The rhino, named Spencer, went into convulsions and died after he was shot with a tranquilizer dart in front of a crush of TV cameras and photographers who had been invited to document an operation to insert a poison capsule into his horn.

Rhino Rescue Project spokeswoman Lorinda Hern:

The rhino had an unfortunate reaction to the anesthesia. Every time you dart a rhino, you take a risk that the rhino might not wake up and unfortunately today was one of those days. It’s sad for us; it’s the loss of another animal. It’s a death that I still chalk up to poaching.

[Source: MSNBC]

http://nerinedorman.blogspot.com Nerine Dorman

Love the way they try to justify their stupid mistake. Why are they darting animals in the first place unless it’s absolutely necessary? I am beyond furious right now. This is such a waste.
http://onestilettoatatime.blogspot.com Abby

So sad!
http://URL JohnnyT

It’s 2012 and we use tranquilizers that, when shot, the animal might not wake up? This is a sad and pathetic joke.
http://URL Philip

Lets shoot the dumb b*tch spokeswoman with the same drug and hope like hell she too has bad reaction to it!

Silly Cow.
Greg C

Umm, JohnnyT – would you rather they capture them and test different anaesthetics until they find one that works everytime? They do their best to estimate and predict the biochemistry inside them, but because they are so rare, there hasn’t been enough work done to conclusively develop anaesthesia for rhinos – so they do the best they can.

@Nerine – I’m pretty sure this counts as a situation where they “absolutely have to” try this anti poaching method – no other physical means seems to be working… Poisoning the tusks before they can get cut off will either deter poachers, or kill/make sick whomever is actually consuming them.

It’s sad what happened but it is still just an accident
http://rangerdiaries James

Well said Greg. The science of anaesthetics is a very difficult one. At the end of the day these folk are trying desperately to help the situation. A tragic accident indeed, but to have us jumping on their backs is certainly not going to help our current rhino situation. These are people that are out there dedicating their lives to a war that many of us are hardly lifting a finger about. They wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t have a crisis on our hands.
http://URL JohnnyT

I just find it hard to believe that we can land on the moon, but not have an efficient anesthetic to dart animals with. Yes, they are doing their best out there, but when things like this happen questions hit the air.
http://URL Zak Edgar

I really think that this is not an accurate representation of the FACTS surrounding this event… I suggest that you all dig a little deeper to find the whole truth instead of taking one mans opinions at face value? RRP lost a rhino that was part of the family due to the fact that they had received information that he was going to be poached, They also took it upon themselves to take the educated risk to dart and treat Spencer in order to treat his horn and to dispel any myths and fallacies that the public might have about the treatments. This is why the crowd of press were present. Please do some research before making such crazy allegations!
silverstreak

Hi Zak. You’ll note that we quoted a RRP employee for comment, in which culpability is admitted. Secondly, the only two factual claims made in the story are: 1) RRP darted a rhino and 2) The rhino died as a result of the dart. Thanks for your comment, please let us know if either of those two points are incorrect, and we will amend accordingly.

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