University vet team perform life-saving surgery on Houdini

A VETERINARY team from the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Faculty of Veterinary Science has achieved a remarkable feat, giving four-year-old white rhino bull Houdini a “breath of life” after performing a complex surgical procedure.

- STAFF REPORTER

This intricate surgery, lasting over five hours, was necessitated by a severe nasal obstruction resulting from a harrowing poaching incident years ago, which saw Houdini shot through the nose.

After the traumatic experience, Houdini found refuge at The Rhino Orphanage in Limpopo under the careful supervision of veterinarian Dr Pierre Bester.

Initial signs of healing turned troubling when Houdini began to struggle to breathe through one nostril, prompting further investigation.

A nasal endoscopy revealed pink tissue obstructing his right nasal passage, threatening Houdini's ability to breathe - a situation that Dr Bester highlighted as critical, given that rhinos breathe exclusively through their noses.

In a bid to preserve Houdini’s quality of life, Dr Bester referred him to Professor Gerhard Steenkamp, a veterinary specialist in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery.