A St Albans vet found himself tagging a white rhino while on a conservation mission in South Africa.
Russell Welsh, head vet of Village Vet in St Albans, travelled to Cape Town to protect the animals from poachers, who kill the animals for their horns, which sell for $100,000 per kilo.
As part of a small group of UK vets, Russell attended the World Small Animal Veterinary Congress before being taken to Kruger National Park.
He was joined by Village Vet owner, Brendan Robinson and business partner Simon Hayes on a programme to place microchips on the animals’ horns and necks.
Russell, who took part in one of the rangers’ missions, said: “This was an incredible experience. The chance to dart a rhino in the wild and be part of trying to save these magnificent creatures was too good an opportunity to miss.”
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