Fly-blocking mask gives sick rhino hope

A rhinoceros suffering from recurring eye infections received a new outlook on life thanks to a special mask sewed by her handler at the Ramat Gan Safari.

The docile one-horned rhino, who goes by the name of Tenda, arrived in Israel in 2000 and was plagued from the start by an chronic eye disease, with no effective cure to ease her ailment. An analysis by a team of scientists from Hebrew University’s school of veterinary medicine discovered a parasitic bug living in Tenda’s eyes that attracted flies, which further inflamed her condition.

Tenda’s handler, Netta Guetta, came up with the idea of producing a specially fitted mask that would prevent flies from nearing the eyes without impairing her vision, the Safari reported on Tuesday. Basing the design on a horse harness, Guetta tailored the mask to comfortably fit the rhino’s unique anatomy. In recent weeks, she helped Tenda acclimatize to her new visor, and her condition has substantially improved.

The safari’s zookeepers noted that every morning Tenda eagerly awaits Guetta’s arrival so that she can be fitted with her unique headgear.