The perilous 1,000-mile journey to save Africa’s endangered black rhinos

Rhino poaching is on the rise again in South Africa, writes Sudarsan Raghavan. Now, animal conservationists are trying to save them by moving the rhinos out of threatened areas

A team of conservationists and park rangers guide one of the endangered black rhinos into a boma after it was sedated (Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges)

Blood trickles down Cecil’s face.

A tranquilliser dart has pierced his rough, leathery skin above the ear. Just steps away, his sedated mother has collapsed. Paulina’s hind foot was lassoed with a rope and she was blindfolded. A group of men and women tug on the rope and rock her large, round frame, trying to get her up and into a metal crate.

“1, 2, 3 Push!” someone commands. “1, 2, 3 Push!”