My Encounter with a Rhinoceros
Nov 28, 2012 06:13:09 #
In 2005 my wife and I were travelling and photographing wildlife in Tanzania when we encountered a group of three animal wardens who were guarding three Southern White Rhinoceros in a fairly high altitude area half way up a mountain side. These brave men had dedicated their very lives to the protection of these three animals. Although their English was poor we discovered that about 10 of these animals were gifted some years ago to the government of Tanzania from Nelson Mandela, the then President of South Africa.
As most know the Rhinoceros is one of the most endangered specis on the planet. The horn, which is actually made up of compressed hair and not bone, is priceless in the Arab countries where it's prized as a decorative dagger handle believed to give the holder strength and in the Far East as a male aphrodisiac. This has caused poaching on an unprecedented level to the situation we encountered - with almost each individual wild animal having it's own dedicated guard. All this for the sake of superstitious beliefs.
The name White Rhino is thought to be a mistranslation from Dutch or Afrikaans to English. The English word white is said to have been derived by mistranslation of the Dutch word wijd, which translates to wide in English. Wide refers to the width of the rhinoceros' mouth which has wide muscular lips for cropping grass (like a lawn mower) as distinct from the Black Rhino which has a prehensile upper lip for tearing the grass from the ground. Early English-speaking settlers in South Africa misinterpreted wijd for white which resulted in the Rhino with the wide mouth now being known as the White Rhinoceros. The front horn is typically the largest - 24 inches (60 cm); the rear horn is much shorter than front horn and is a triangular shape. Females' horns are generally longer than males'.
Although well intentioned, the gift from the South African Government was misguided, as the Southern specis was unable to endure the warmer northern temperatures and had to be moved to the cooler high altitude mountain area to survive. But it gets worse. The tragedy was that in addition to the temperature, the Southern specis was also subject to disease caused by the bite of the Tsetse fly which does not occur in the cooler south and unlike their Northern cousins, had never developed an immunity to it. All but three had died before any of this was known - these were the three we encountered.
To our great surprise, we were invited by the guards to touch one of these creatures. Although still wild they had become accustomed to the close presence of humans, so with the guard making soothing noises we approached the extraordinary creature with our hearts in our mouths and tentatively touched the side. I could actually feel it's massive heart beating inside it's great chest while it continued to placidly crop the grass. I was in disbelief - here I was feeling the beating heart of a wild African Rhinoceros. Many of us have experienced exhilarating moments, however I will always treasure my close encounter with this magnificient, mighty, awsome, sometimes ferocious, placid, gentle, beautiful, vulnerable (words fail me) creature.
I wrote this piece to support a photograph I posted in the 'Gallery' section titled "Encounter with a Rhinoceros". I hope you like it.
As most know the Rhinoceros is one of the most endangered specis on the planet. The horn, which is actually made up of compressed hair and not bone, is priceless in the Arab countries where it's prized as a decorative dagger handle believed to give the holder strength and in the Far East as a male aphrodisiac. This has caused poaching on an unprecedented level to the situation we encountered - with almost each individual wild animal having it's own dedicated guard. All this for the sake of superstitious beliefs.
The name White Rhino is thought to be a mistranslation from Dutch or Afrikaans to English. The English word white is said to have been derived by mistranslation of the Dutch word wijd, which translates to wide in English. Wide refers to the width of the rhinoceros' mouth which has wide muscular lips for cropping grass (like a lawn mower) as distinct from the Black Rhino which has a prehensile upper lip for tearing the grass from the ground. Early English-speaking settlers in South Africa misinterpreted wijd for white which resulted in the Rhino with the wide mouth now being known as the White Rhinoceros. The front horn is typically the largest - 24 inches (60 cm); the rear horn is much shorter than front horn and is a triangular shape. Females' horns are generally longer than males'.
Although well intentioned, the gift from the South African Government was misguided, as the Southern specis was unable to endure the warmer northern temperatures and had to be moved to the cooler high altitude mountain area to survive. But it gets worse. The tragedy was that in addition to the temperature, the Southern specis was also subject to disease caused by the bite of the Tsetse fly which does not occur in the cooler south and unlike their Northern cousins, had never developed an immunity to it. All but three had died before any of this was known - these were the three we encountered.
To our great surprise, we were invited by the guards to touch one of these creatures. Although still wild they had become accustomed to the close presence of humans, so with the guard making soothing noises we approached the extraordinary creature with our hearts in our mouths and tentatively touched the side. I could actually feel it's massive heart beating inside it's great chest while it continued to placidly crop the grass. I was in disbelief - here I was feeling the beating heart of a wild African Rhinoceros. Many of us have experienced exhilarating moments, however I will always treasure my close encounter with this magnificient, mighty, awsome, sometimes ferocious, placid, gentle, beautiful, vulnerable (words fail me) creature.
I wrote this piece to support a photograph I posted in the 'Gallery' section titled "Encounter with a Rhinoceros". I hope you like it.
Nov 28, 2012 06:34:00 #
Thanks so much. I can't imagine the thrill and awe of actually touching a giant of an animal like this. A thought and memory to cherish for sure.
Sarge69
Sarge69
Nov 28, 2012 06:43:50 #
You are very blessed to have been allowed so close to such magnificient animals.
The photo below was taken at Shamwari and was the closest we were allowed to approach.
Oddly we were much closer to the cheetahs...
The photo below was taken at Shamwari and was the closest we were allowed to approach.
Oddly we were much closer to the cheetahs...
Nov 28, 2012 17:10:27 #
sarge69 wrote:
A thought and memory to cherish for sure.
Sarge69
Sarge69
Sarge, you're right. Generally, if it's visible, it can be photographed, however actually capturing the feeling is not always possible. First steps, on the moon for example - grainy photos of a guy walking in a strange place, but imagine his feelings at that moment. Some things are simply best remembered. I call these moments 'Photographs of the Mind' - y'know what I mean. :wink:
Nov 29, 2012 13:25:46 #
Thanks for post,a shame they are being threatened with extinction through greed....
Nov 29, 2012 14:45:35 #
Dec 15, 2012 17:39:23 #
Thanks all for looking and letting me share with you one of my most memorable moments.
Mar 2, 2013 01:58:33 #
I'm so jealous! I hope to travel someday, but until then i'm enjoying your adventures! Thank you for this magnificent eye candy
Apr 3, 2013 05:20:47 #
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