The video documents a recent poaching incident in South Africa's Eastern Cape where a rhino named Hope was found with her horn removed and severe head wounds. A team of veterinarians, supported by the nonprofit Saving the Survivors, rushes to the site to assess and treat the injury. They describe an emergency protocol that includes flushing, cleaning, and applying a newly developed protective shield, as well as drilling holes to relieve pressure—techniques being used for the first time on a rhino. Throughout the report, the speakers convey deep emotional reactions, likening Hope to a child and expressing anguish at the cruelty of poaching, which they compare to genocide. The narrative also highlights the broader crisis, noting a 3% loss of Africa's rhino population in the previous year, and issues a global call for awareness, resources, and action to combat the poaching war.
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We just got word that another rhino has been mutilated and left for dead in the Eastern Cape. We're on our way up there now. There's a group of vets on the ground working working day and night to try and save her life. And as a photojournalist, I feel so strongly that we need to share these stories and show the world what is happening to these animals.
It happened sometime during the Friday night. I only saw her after they got her out of the bush. We realized that the horn was gone. I can't explain the emotions that went through everybody with that wound.
For me, the most important reason why we're doing this is for us to learn how to treat these wounds. If this does work, then we can say, "Yes, we can save them." Today we're just gonna evaluate the wound.
We will flush it, clean it, and then we brought a new shield which we will fasten to the wound.
This is the first time that we will use this technique.
My first feeling was thank the Lord for people like Saving the Survivors. And then my next feeling was every time that they drilled that holes into her head, I just wanted to close my eyes and say, I don't want to hear that, I don't want to hear that. She must feel it, it must be so sore.
This was really a very emotional experience. I find it really difficult. It's this huge 2-ton animal, and you have to see what they go through.
Hope, to me, is like one of my kids. I can't wait at night and in the morning to see what Saving the Survivors are saying about her.
We're looking forward for her to come home. I'm sorry.
We're losing animals now. We lost 3% of Africa's rhino last year. We need the awareness and the resources of people right across the world to fight this war and to save this one species.
These animals are being hacked to death. If they were human beings, we'd call this genocide. How is this any different?
