Rhino Husbandry Manual
White Rhinoceros
Transportation
Crating and shipping of rhinos is one of the most difficult transport procedures. While rhinos themselves are fairly hardy, the limitations of temperament, peculiarities of chemical immobilization, and rigorous shipping equipment necessitate a strict yet flexible protocol for optimizing successful crating and shipping.
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Pre-shipment Medical Procedures
Communication at the veterinary level between receiving and shipping institutions prior to rhino translocations is essential in order to discuss specific institutional and/or state requirements. Standard medical procedures for all moves should include the following: (1) a tuberculosis test within 30 days to six months of shipment (depending on where the rhino is being shipped) or as particular state, federal or international requirements dictate, (2) brucellosis serology if dictated by particular state or international requirements, (3) a physical examination, (4) three negative fecal screens 30 days prior to shipment, and (5) a review and update of vaccinations (see Health chapter). In addition, medical or research protocols defined by the SSP should be reviewed during the planning process.
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Crating
Crating is the recommended transport method, although transport in trailer stalls has also been successful. It is important in the latter case that the trailer is well-reinforced. In all situations, the animal’s behavior and conditions should be constantly monitored. Typical problems that can occur during shipping include the following: (1) animals destroying and/or climbing out of the crate top; (2) animals becoming inverted in the crate and unable to right themselves; (3) animals destroying end panels or doors, resulting in eye, horn or facial injuries; and (4) prolonged, excessive exertion resulting in hyperthermia and/or myopathy.
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Design
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) crate design specifications are listed in Table 3.9. Crates are usually constructed of wood, metal, or wood with steel reinforcements. Crate dimensions should be determined by the animal’s size (Table 3.9), but a general principle is that the crate should be 0.3 m (1 ft) longer and wider than the animal when it is lying on its side. Crates with vertical bars situated at the head end will decrease injuries to the head and face but must be spaced correctly with at least 10-15 cm (4-6 in) gaps. Horizontal bars at the head end should be avoided,
as they tend to cause horn breakage and/or damage. Crates with bars and doors at both ends are optimal.
Principles of Design
Frames should be constructed of strong metal with sides of solid hardwood. Vertical metal bars should be bolted in place at the front and back with sliding or hinged wooden doors to the exterior of the bars. The upper third of the wooden doors must have ventilation spaces or openings. There are several new requirements for lower ventilation as well. IATA specifies that the roof must be solid over the animal’s head and slatted over the loin and hindquarters for ventilation. For ground transportation, however, removable panels or hinged doors over the animal’s head can be useful for administering to medical needs and monitoring the animal. Hatches also allow for more ventilation when an animal is standing calmly.
The interior must be smooth with no projections. Wooden crates have often been modified to include solid metal sheets at the head so that the horn deflects and cannot damage the wood. Only nuts and bolts should be used in the container. Entry and exit doors must be closed and bolted in strategic places to be strong enough to resist the animal, and to withstand the rigors of the equipment necessary to move the crate and rhino. The floor must be at least 2.5 cm (1 in) thick and be a non-slip surface. Some crate floors are slatted so that urine and feces can flow through so that the animal is not standing in excreta. For international and air transport, the container must be constructed in such a way that the floor and lower sides are leak-proof. In view of the diversity in size, strength and temperament of rhinos, the size and strength of the container must be sufficient to restrict the movement of and restrain the animal. Dimensions must be large enough to prevent cramping without allowing unnecessary movement. In general, the crate should be 0.3 m (1 ft) longer and wider than the animal when it is lying on its side.
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At the front of the container, there must be provisions for water and food access at the base of the door and between the bars, if present. For airline transport, this access point must be clearly marked FEEDING and be adequately secured when not in use. A water container must be provided and must be sufficiently large for the entry of the animal’s muzzle. Some rhinos will not drink from a tub, and so offering a hose directly into the crate (either into the animal’s mouth or just puddling in front of the rhino) is sufficient to provide water. Entrance and exit must be clearly indicated on crates used for airline transport. Many crates are designed to be used in either direction. The above recommendations are modified from IATA standards to include specifications for ground transport. Before shipping by air, consult the current IATA specifications and/or the airline.
Acclimation Training
Crate acclimation can require two to six weeks, although several zoos have crate-trained rhinos in seven days or less. Training should be completed by a method of approximation (with reinforcement given as rhinos demonstrate progress towards the desired behaviors). The first step is to introduce the crate as a non-interactive part of the animal’s environment. Gradually, the food is moved toward and finally into the crate. If the animal acclimates to the point of completely entering the crate and will allow the door to be shut, the door should be left closed for short acclimation periods under close observation. It is not advisable to close the animal into the crate if the training period is short. No rhino likes to be closed into the crate, and even the best-trained rhinos will react negatively to being locked in. If there is not adequate time to train the rhino to acclimate to a closed crate, closing him/her in will only make the experience a negative one, and there will be a major setback to the ability to close the animal in for shipment. If the rhino does not completely acclimate to entering the crate, partial immobilization (standing restraint) may need to be utilized for shipping. Forced crating without training or immobilization is strongly discouraged.
IATA Standards: 2023
Materials: Metal and Hardwood
Metal must meet min. criteria:
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Container must be strong enough to contain animal for entire move.
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2 mm sheet metal with angle iron frame
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Double floor for urine
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The animal should be able to stand naturally without being cramped but should not be able to move freely.
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Consult IATA Guidelines prior to any transport
Crating with Chemical Immobilization
Immobilization offers a fairly simple way of crating a rhino. First, it should be noted that the usual pre-immobilization procedures (e.g., fasting, detainment in an adequate holding area, etc.) should be observed for any procedure requiring the use of chemical immobilization/tranquilization agents. For rhinos, etorphine (M-99) remains the drug of choice, although several alternatives are available. For specific drugs and dosages, refer to the Health chapter of this publication. The duration of immobilization without the administration of an antagonist may range from 30 minutes to two hours.
Following crating, all rhinos should be held for 24 hours at the loading location for observation or accompanied by a veterinarian during transport. This step is necessary because renarcotization is common in hoofed animals, especially rhinos, given opioids. This step, however, may not be necessary if the butorphanol/detomidine anesthetic protocol is used (P. Morris, pers. comm.). Trained personnel should be present to administer the correct reversal agent(s) in the event of a renarcotization. Any other complications of crating can be managed more easily and effectively before departure rather than en route.
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Transport
Numerous options for transporting rhinos are available. Each method has its advantages, and each should be scrutinized by evaluating the distance to be traveled, the personnel needed and the temperatures to which the animals will be subjected. A flat-bed truck and open trailer is temperature-restrictive. A crate within an open trailer should be protected from excessive wind, rain and sun. Enclosed trucks or trailers are other options that are necessary in extreme hot or cold temperatures. In any case, the transport vehicles must be climate-controlled if shipping in inclement weather (either hot or cold). If weather conditions and ventilation are appropriate, many rhinos have been moved in enclosed trailers without climate-control. Air transport, rather than ship trans- port, is the preferred option for any transoceanic translocation. Transport by ship is undesirable because of the excessive time at sea, variable conditions and more intensive personnel requirements. When transporting by air, it should be noted that some airlines may require the rhino crate to be placed in an aluminum air cargo box, which can restrict ventilation and subject the rhino to excessive heat buildup during both the airplane-loading process and transport.
During all rhino shipments, the shipper must be aware that any animal that has been immobilized (and to a lesser extent, some that have not) will be less capable of maintaining thermal homeostasis than a normal animal, and appropriate accommodations for this are necessary (e.g., ventilation, climate-control). If during the course of a transport procedure a situation arises in which the safety of the animal is jeopardized, a decision should be made through the appropriate channels to postpone or cancel the shipment. Leaving the decision of whether to transport an animal to the transporter or the recipient may be disadvantageous to the animal’s welfare. The transporter is not familiar with pertinent medical and practical husbandry information, and recipients are at a disadvantage because they are often not present.