I have a profound love and respect for animals and nature instilled in me from a very young age by my parents. While most kids went to the coast, my parents took us to different parts of the country during our school holidays. We would set up camp and visit all the sights, museums, monuments or game reserves the area had to offer. It’s because of this that I still head for ‘the bush’ every chance I get.
Follow me in photos as I take you on the most extraordinary experience of my life. A chance encounter with White Rhino - one of the largest land living animals.
White Rhino and oxpecker bird – These two live in mutualistic symbiosis – the oxpecker rids the rhino of ticks and because the rhino is short sighted also warns him of danger by hissing or screaming.
A few years ago I was on holiday where we stayed at a game reserve for the weekend. The chalets are next to a strip where all the animals, early morning and late afternoon, walk by on their way to the water hole.
Saturday morning I woke up for just that. I wanted to watch the early morning trek. I sat next to the fence separating the camp from the animals and waited.
An African White Rhino walked by and went on his merry way.
Unbeknown to me another two rhinos were slowly grazing on the fence-line where I sat. Rhinos have very poor eyesight, good hearing and an incredibly good sense of smell. By the time I noticed them, it was too late to move since I didn’t want to scare them. I don’t know if they knew I was there, but seemed content to just graze along.
Only three thin wires separated me from 2.2 tons of pure aggression when provoked or scared. They are 3,8m – 4 meters long (12-13ft). At full length, I’m 1.78m tall (5ft 8in).
Both walked up and one turned and looked straight at me. The moment and the feeling was almost too much. I literally burst into tears. Yes, I was afraid, but the magnitude of what I was experiencing is indescribable.
I got to look at his gentle eyes, see the roughness of his skin. I saw his three toed feet and the horns he’s in danger of getting killed for. I could hear him and smell him. He was so close, all I had to do is reach out if I dared to touch him.
Just like that, the moment was over, but the memory will stay with me forever. It was a once in a lifetime experience. It’s not how you normally get to see a Rhinoceros. I was lucky on so many levels. I should still be jumping with joy, but I look at the photos and I just can’t stop crying.
• I cry because these majestic animals are defenceless against the guns and knives of poachers.
• Because they are killed by stupidity, ignorance and callous greed.
• Because, if the killing doesn’t stop now, soon all there’ll be left are these photos to show my children.
• Because all I want to do is put myself between them and the poachers, if only to save one.
• I’m crying because I feel absolutely and utterly helpless in the fight for their survival.
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Lovely Photos!
I remember encountering white rhinos when I was in Kenya. It was the late 80s, and I was about 7 or 8. We were at a safari park, and my parents have somehow managed to arrange for us to actually be in an enclosure with a white rhino and its child (I did not think much of it at the time, but now I wonder how my parents actually managed to get that to happen).
I actually remember being allowed to touch the rhino, it felt very leathery...
Sometime after that, as we stood around, the child rhino (which was about my height) just suddenly put down its head and charged straight at me. My mother nearly wrenched my arm out of its socket pulling me out of the way. We left the enclosure very quickly.
It really saddens me to think that soon those lovely animals might be extinct.
Thank you for sharing @nenad-ristic. What an experience that must've been! WOW!
Yes, there are places that have 'tame' rhinos that allow close contact and touching. They're still wild animals (and blind to boot) and as such unpredictable. Good on your mom for saving you! I bet she aged years in that moment. They're so big and heavy that a just bump from them can do damage.
This I know - I'll keep fighting for them however I can.
They are magnificent animals.
That they are @gikitiki
It is very sad.
A small blessing that the post was in words and not video. I'm a sobbing mess!
It's understandable.
I really get inspired by your post, thank you very much!
Only a pleasure @kevbonneau. I'm glad my post inspired you.
Hi where are the photos taken?
Hello @valtr. They were taken in Swaziland.
They look quite domestic, so I was curious.
There was a big action in 2009 of reintroduction of white rhinos from ZOO in the Czech republic back to Kenya reservation Ol Pejeta. It is a rare subspecies - northern. Only last 4 of them known to live all over the world and all from Zoo Dvůr Králové, Czech republic http://www.zoodvurkralove.cz/en/.
Now they are guarded behind fence. Hopefully they survive and reproduce. Problem is that many guns are needed to protect them and reproduction is problematic.
Long live the rhinos!
Thank you so much for the info. You're right. Breeding with rhinos are difficult. Only one calf is born to a female in five years. Gestation is 18 months and then it takes 2-3 years before the females mates again. I didn't know Zoo Dvůr Králové, Czech republic was doing so well with breeding the rhinos. I'm their new best fan!
It's sad that rhinos have to be guarded in small camps by guards with guns. It seems that the poachers will stop at nothing to get to the horns.
The bloody problem is the the horns are more valuable than gold.
The horns are good for nothing any normal thinking man must now, but the buyers are obviously another category.
I like the idea of cheating the market with artificial genetically identical horns.
I'd be petrified that only a thin piece of barb wire separates me and something so massive. But, color me ignorant as they seem like gentle giants.
I was wary to post the photos because I don’t want people from other countries to think that this is the norm. It definitely isn’t. They are gentle giants, but not to be messed with - ever. I was terrified! It was a very dangerous situation I found myself in, but I’m so happy it turned out the way it did. I’ll cherish the connection forever.
They very rarely attack people though. You would have to go out of your way to threaten them from what I've heard. Hippos are much more dangerous.
Yes @thecryptofriend, if left unprovoked, white rhinos are less likely to attack. Let's not test the theory though. Hippos are born pissed-off and will attack any chance it gets.
The wire is a signal for the rhino, not an obstackle.
Very big and beautiful animals, love your photos)
Thank you @yulia98.
What an incredible opportunity to see such beautiful creatures up close. Rhino's are one of my favorite animals and to see how close you came gave me a sense of awe and terror at the same time. I wonder if the rhino could sense you were not a threat the way dogs can sense certain feelings through what we give off too.
I haven't been up close and personal like this with any great beasts like these, but have seen my share of bears, moose, baboons and other such interesting creatures. Hopefully those who destroy them out of greed will be apprehended and allow the animals to run free again.
Thank you for your comment @benjmiller. If only we can convince the ignorant, stupid idiots out there that the horns have no medicinal value. The horn consists of keratin - it's like believing if you eat hair and nails you'll cure your cancer. It's just ridiculous and these animals might become extinct because of it!
👍nice post, Photographing so brave @jacor
This is a great share with awesome photos! I wish I could see one in real life! :)
Thank you @voltarius. I hope you'll get the opportunity to see one in real life one day. It's simply amazing to see.
Wonderful photos and write up. It's a really sad state of affairs and I hope things change before it's too late.
Thank you @randomli.
beautifully written and great photos..