Game capture!!

May 22, 2012 (7:10pm Lusaka; 12:10pm Huntsville)

Today, Rachael, Jackie, & I were invited to go on a giraffe game capture.  The two veterinarians that we met were Dr. David Square (the ZAWA vet) & Dr. Ian Parsons (lived in South Africa).  Dr. Ian Parsons is a widely respected vet; vet senior to Dr. Square and another veterinarian that Rachael refers to.  Dr. Parsons is very busy & doesn’t take any veterinary students, but has allowed a graduated veterinarian to be his assistant for a month. 

On this game capture at the Kafue Fisheries, we were transporting a female juvenile giraffe for the Zambian President.  VThe capture went very smoothly – which of course is a rare occurrence.  It was so much fun to ride in the back of the truck with the capture team.  It was so much fun to watch. The veterinarians let us get out & we were right there with the team. Dr. Square took a blood sample, tail hair sample, & a few other vitals.  We arrived back at Lilayi at lunch to help take care of (which I now call “mine”) our baby elephants. 
Dr. Parsons also came by to exam Suni & make a recommendation of further treatment. I think he suggested gentamycin, amoxicillin IM, limited exercise to 100 meters around the Boma. He believes she is turning in her foot b/c of loss of sensation & neuromuscular issues. If rest doesn’t produce improvement over the next week or so, a cast may be the next treatment of choice.