Rescue efforts were successful yesterday when 32 wild horses and three foals were ushered towards a large island where they will be safe until flooding ends.
Alexander Bay, South Africa (03 February 2022) – The second rescue of horses took place on the Orange River this week. Hugo Foot and the Port Nolloth NSRI crew attended the scene after calling for assistance from local animal rescue groups; 32 wild horses and three foals were trapped.
Network for Animals heard the call for help and joined the NSRI crew to help get the wild horses and foals to safety. 32 wild horses and three foals were stuck on various small, shrinking islands without food or water, growing weaker by the hour.
The horses were extremely fearful of humans, so the best thing for them was to move them to a larger island with enough grazing space to get them through until the flooding subsided.
Station commander Hugo Foot shared how the rescue took place.
“At 05h00, Wednesday, 2 February, NSRI Port Nolloth duty crew prepared our sea rescue craft Vodacom Rescuer 2 which we towed to the Orange River, Richtersveld near to Alexander Bay, to assist “Have a Heart” and “Network for Animals” to save horses trapped on islands on the flooded Orange River.
The wild horses had been trapped on small island in rising waters and some of the horses were reported to be tethered.
On arrival on the scene our sea rescue craft, accompanied by members of “Have a Heart” and “Network for Animals” was launched.
Public members, 4 Namibians, Jacques Kemp, Mark Kemp, Mauricio Smit and Dewald van Jaarsveld, from the Namibian side of the river, launched their two private boats offering to help to assist in the operation.
The horses were scattered in groups across a number of smaller island that they had sought shelter on. As islands were flooded the horses were forced to swim to the next island, causing the horses to be scattered over a large area, some already standing on islands that had submerged.
In an intense operation the horses were corralled and walked through chest deep water and at places swum through water to reach larger islands.
We went from island to island continuing to assist until all of the horses were safe.
In total 35 horses, which included three foal’s, were assisted to safety.
Once all horses were out of danger no further assistance was required and the operation was completed at approximately 11h00.
The 4 Namibians, “Have a Heart”, “Network for Animals” and our NSRI Port Nolloth rescue team are commended for saving the horses.”
The Network for Animals has plans to provide medical care to the horses as soon as the floods have subsided. You can help the organisation by donating towards food, hydration, medication, special supplements, and 24-hour monitoring here. The wild horses will be released to a new safe haven and given a second chance at a peaceful life!
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