Neck-deep in water and sludge, the baby wildebeest could only wait to die. On September 8, she had fallen into the Ol Joro Dam, nothing more than a tiny waterhole, but could not climb out. Fortunately, community members discovered her mucky situation and notified rangers nearby at Manyara Ranch. A whole host of community members came to support the effort.
After lassoing a rope around her horns, the rangers and Maasai herders pulled the wildebeest to safety.
The rangers even loaded the little grubby wildebeest into their truck and returned her to her herd!
Just another day on the job.
Felipe Rodriguez is a freelance photographer currently volunteering for Honeyguide Foundation in Tanzania. You can view more of his work at www.photocolect.com.