 Reference Base  Removal of a prolapsed eyeball in a wild black rhinoceros |
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Prole, J.H.B., 1965. Removal of a prolapsed eyeball in a wild black rhinoceros. Veterinary Record 77 (6): 156-157, figs. 1-3
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| Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Kenya |
| Subject: |
Translocation - Immobilization |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Eye operation in Amboseli, Kenya - Diceros bicornis. The anaesthetic to be used was Parke Davis' Sernyl injected intramuscularly into the buttock by means of a dart fired from a crossbow, a method long practised by Nick Carter; an American invention with East African modifications. Carter has found this anaesthetic particularly effective on black rhinos, as the dose is not critical, and too accurate an estimation of the weight of the animal is not necessary.
The dose for an adult rhino (3/8 gr.) is dissolved in about 1.5 c.c. of water, so that a relatively light dart may be used. A little hyal veronidase is also added, for quick absorption into the blood stream. The dart itself has a special metal syringe with a barbed hypodermic needle on one end and feathered flights at the other. An automatic device causes the drug to be injected after impact.
Past experience has shown that the dart sometimes becomes deflected by tough skin or bone, or, on occasions, the hypodermic needle becomes clogged by a bit of hide. Any of these may result in insufficient quantities of the drug entering the blood stream, and a second shot may be needed.
We shot the dart into Gertie at 8.30 in the morning, and she moved slowly away. For some reason the dart took no effect and we shot again at 9.15.
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