Giraffe are not only the tallest land mammal but they’re also perhaps THE most challenging wild animal to immobilize in Africa….

Apart from their size and unusual anatomy, giraffe are resistant to the M99 immobilizing drug which means they have a tendency to keep running once they’ve been darted. This increases the risk of them dying from exhaustion and lack of oxygen. 

So when staff from the Hide Safari Camp contacted DART to report a snared Giraffe we knew we’d have to come together to form a special capture team. Our task would be to pursue the darted giraffe and use ropes to slow and quickly bring the animal down …… Needless to say, darting a snared giraffe is a very challenging exercise!!

The successful immobilization and rescue of this snared giraffe relied entirely on the assistance DART received from Steve Alexander and his team of Rangers plus Nick, Kierra and staff from the Hide Safari Lodge.

The challenge of this difficult operation spontaneously brought us together to form a capture team where everyone played an essential role in the treatment and care of this giraffe which ultimately ensured it’s survival and the overall success of the operation..

Thanks not only to the staff of the Hide Safari Camp and CWF who provided direct assistance but also to the kind members of the DART Donor Community who help to cover cost of other hidden expenses including vehicle fuel, wildlife drugs etc.