This year, the small reserve called out to Dr. DeBlanc and Dr. Fowlds for assistance in dehorning one of their rhino. DeBlanc and Fowlds are both veterinarians whose shared commitment to safeguarding Africa’s rhinos has forged a partnership rooted in trust, skill, and purpose.  One based in the U.S, the other in South Africa, but both were nearby the Eastern Cape in August to answer the call. Their reunion in the bush underscored how conservation is strengthened by continuity: familiar terrain, familiar challenges, and familiar allies working side by side.

The team focused on proactively dehorning one of the reserve’s rhino population, a strategy proven to reduce the risk of poaching while maintaining herd stability. While the rhino was sedated, it was checked for parasites, blood was drawn to look for disease, and samples were taken for the databank.

Each procedure was carried out with precision, compassion, and deep respect for the animals. The work is demanding, involves long hours, rugged terrain, and the emotional weight of protecting a species under constant threat, but it is also profoundly hopeful. Every successful operation represents another rhino with a safer future and another step toward stabilizing the population in this region.

For VCC, supporting this project is about more than returning to a familiar reserve. It’s about reinforcing relationships, sustaining momentum, and showing up again and again for the wildlife that depends on consistent protection. By backing the collaboration between Dr. DeBlanc and Dr. Fowlds, VCC continues to invest in the people and practices that make real conservation possible. The Eastern Cape remains a place where dedication becomes action, and where each return trip strengthens the promise of a safer tomorrow for its rhinos.