Ikhala Veterinary Clinic

Up close with a black rhino! 🦏🚁 Precision, teamwork, and conservation in action as @williamfowlds safely darts this incredible species from the air! #ikhalaveterinarywildlifeservices #wildlifeconservation #rhinoconservation #blackrhino

SOUND UP! 📣 Have you ever heard an elephant snore? This big elephant bull was darted to fit a tracking collar - what a perfect opportunity to admire such a magnificent creature! 🐘 Here are some fascinating facts about an elephants trunk: 💪 An elephant’s trunk contains 40 000 muscles! This incredible musculature allows the trunk to be extremely strong and precise. 🔧 The trunk serves multiple purposes like a multitool! This includes breathing, smelling, touching, grasping, drinking and communication! 💦 Elephants don’t actually drink directly through their trunks. Instead, they use the trunk to suck up to 10 liters of water at a time, then pour it into their mouths. 👃 An elephant’s sense of smell is so powerful it can detect water sources up to 12 miles (20 kilometers) away. 💨 Elephants can use their trunks to blow air as a trumpet-like sound for communication or as a way to spray dust or water over their bodies for cooling and protection from insects. #ikhalaveterinarywildlifeservices #elephantconservation

🌟 Exciting announcement! 🌟 The movie ‘The Last Ranger’ has been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination! The Ikhala Team played an integral part in the production element of the project. The movie was filmed here in the Eastern Cape on @kariega.game.reserve and @amakhala_game_reserve and is based on true stories of local rhino poachings. Please look out for the launch of this film and share it wide so we can spread the word on the rhino crisis profile and the community connection to this tragedy. 🦏🤍 #ikhalavetclinic @thelastrangerfilm

This stunning Black Rhino was recently darted by our wildlife team so it could be fitted with a specialised tracking device. 🦏 The collar you see on its ankle uses AI to learn each animal’s behaviour and alerts the anti-poaching team immediately if there is any unusual activity. This provides advanced security for the animal, but also gives the team a fascinating insight into each animals individualisation. 🩶 We thank the team at @buffalokloof for their continued dedication to the protection of this species! #ikhalaveterinarywildlifeservices #rhinoconservation #savetherhino

Who knows whose nose belongs to whom? 👀 We’re fortunate to work with such a diverse array of animal species, each with its own unique charm and features that never cease to amaze us! 🐾 Can you identify all the species in this reel? ⭐️ #ikhalaveterinarywildlifeservices #ikhalavetservices #wildlifeconservation

🌟 Another successful Community Outreach Day! 🌟 The team at @ikhalavetclinic along with the @vetsgowild students came together at another local community providing sterilisations, vaccines and much needed goodies to the community’s pet population! 🐃 Thank you to @buffalokloof for inviting us into your beautiful community. 🤍 🦴 Thank you to @montegopets for providing delicious and nutritious pet food. All tummies were left full and happy! 💉Vaccinations were given to those in need with the generous donations by @wildernessfoundation - BIG thank you as always! 🦮And the last of the giant donation of leashes, collars and harnesses by @arizonavma were given out which brings joy to both pet and owner! 🐾 Thank you to the @vetpaw team for your support and knowledge! Community outreach programs involve lots of people to make them a success, and we could not do it without their help! If you’d like to get involved in our next project, please reach out to us! #ikhalavetclinic #communityoutreach #spayandneuter

One of the more challenging aspects of our wildlife work is dehorning rhinos. It’s not something we enjoy doing, but it is often critical for their protection. The horn, made of keratin, is safely removed by professionals, making the rhino less attractive to poachers. Although the horn regrows and may require periodic removal, dehorning significantly reduces poaching risks. For many game reserves, it is unfortunately a necessary measure to protect rhinos against poaching. #ikhalaveterinarywildlifeservices #ikhalavet #rhinoconservation #wildlifevet #vetsgowild

‼️URGENT HOMES NEEDED ‼️ We are desperately looking for 13 puppies from 2 litter, one Border Collie cross, the other mixed breed. They are about 5 weeks old and have been abandoned. We need to move fast, so if you know anyone looking for an adorable puppy, please call the clinic at 087 701 9501. 😇🩷🩵

We had an unusual visitor at the clinic recently! 🐍 This baby adder was found in our garden. We carefully removed it, and took it to a nearby game reserve!💚 Adders can be venomous, and their bites are serious and potentially life-threatening! Symptoms of your pets being bitten may include swelling at the site of the bite, bruising, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and vomiting. Adder bites can be extremely time sensitive, and if you suspect your pet has been bitten, it is crucial you take your pet to the vet immediately! 🚑 #ikhalavetclinic #emergencypetcare