Nine Useful Facts about Rhino by Jane Flowers

Know what you are seeing on safari

African safari guides help to explain the wilderness area you are visiting. They are brim-full of facts about everything in their environment. However, they do not always know everything and even if they do, let’s face it - you are not going care about facts and figures when a black rhino is tearing around the bush looking for you.

What is the greatest threat to the rhino?

The greatest threats to the survival of rhino are humans who hunt them for their horn and sell them on for medicinal and ornamental reasons. The horn is made from a substance much like your own hair and finger nails but the Asian belief in magical properties has created such a huge market for the horn that the animals have been hunted close to extinction.

The two main species of Rhino in Africa

There are two main species of rhino in Africa. The white rhino is larger than the black rhino and is most often found grazing in open woodland. The black rhino prefers to eat the leaves and fruit from trees or aloes. It follows then that black rhino are most likely to be found in thickets and rough country.

How do you know which rhino you are looking at?

The white rhino is most often seen in small family groups, which stand around with their heads down. They have a placid way about them and will most often ignore you. You will notice that many black rhino have open ulcers or skin lesions which are caused by parasites. The black rhino throws its head up and to one side and when disturbed will often set off in shambling, circular run to try and identify where the threat is coming from.

What can you do if a rhino charges you?

If you are walking, the rhino of either species can be a danger to you, so you need to pay attention to your guide when he explains what to do if you are unlucky enough to face a rhino charge. Rhino can reach speeds of 40km per hour at full charge and humans are not likely to outrun one. You also need to know that when a rhino charges he is not pretending. It would be a very bad idea to start taking photos and hope the rhino will stop the charge. If the wind is in your favour, standing stock still can keep you safe as rhinos have very bad eye sight. The best option is to get into a tree and stay there until the rhino moves away. As John Forrest of the Zululand game capture team explained to me, "the thorns only hurt you when you when you try and climb down again!"

How can you tell if you are rhino territory?

Rhinos like to rub and scratch themselves to ease the itch from parasites. They will often choose a sturdy tree or a handy rock for this purpose. Rocks and trees can be used for generations by the rhino and they often have smooth areas and a worn track around the object. Rhino defecate in a midden and if you come across the scattered dung it is a sure sign that the midden is used often. At water holes, you will notice rhino tracks in the mud. Rhinos are dependent on water and will visit the pans daily.

 

Are there birds associated with rhino?

The red oxpecker eats insects and parasites such as ticks that hang in the folds of rhino. For a large animal, rhino can be very quiet in the bush. Very often, the presence of a rhino is given away by the calls of these birds. White egrets, also known as tick birds will also been seen around rhino.

What should I do if I see an unaccompanied rhino calf?

The best thing to do if you see an unaccompanied rhino calf is to back off. Young rhinos are capable of walking within three hours of birth but the mother rhino will often leave them alone under cover. However the mother will not be far away. When you see a calf with an adult, you will be able to tell which is white or which is black, as the young of white rhino walk ahead of the adult. The young of the black rhino walk behind the adult. Note that when a white rhino charges the young will charge ahead.

What sounds do rhino make?

Young rhinos will squeal and squeak much like whales. During fighting rhino will grunt loudly and when they charge they make a loud puffing sound much like a steam engine. On occasion the first time you realize there is a rhino around is when you hear the puffing

Do rhino really put out camp fires?

This is claimed by many people to be a myth. However I have met Game Rangers who swear they have witnessed this happening. If this ever happens to you try and grab a photo if you can - after you climb a tree.