Dr. Nelson recently returned from his trip to Africa.  While he was there he got little to eat and not much sleep but he managed to transport one female black rhino over 14 hours to a protected area.  They spent three days camping out and tracking the rhino.  Once they finally found her, she was sedated with a dart, examined and eventually loaded into a trailer for transport.  Her eyes were covered and her ears were plugged with cotton to help keep her calm while in the trailer.  As soon as she was loaded, Dr. Nelson and African Veterinarian Eric Verryenne got in the truck and headed to Botswana’s Orapa Black Rhino Preserve.  There wasn’t much time for R&R on this trip but Dr. Nelson snuck in some time to play with white lion cubs at an animal quarantine and export facility in South Africa. 

Dr. Nelson is headed back to Africa.  The mission of this trip is to relocate several black rhinoceros to a protected area in Botswana.  Black rhinos are hunted for their horns.  Some middle eastern religions believe they can cure cancer in addition to other ailments.  However, this is not true.  Unfortunately poachers are killing the rhinos to sell the horns and causing a massive population decline.  Hopefully Dr. Nelson’s efforts will help save the rhino population.  It should be an exciting (and slightly dangerous) mission.  Stay tuned for updates as we get them!