Baby Rhino vs My Feet
One week left for the course to end. I could see the days in the calendar flying by. It was such an amazing time that I didn’t want it to end. By now we had seen all the Big 5 except the rhino.
Rhinos are beautiful creatures that are being killed for their horn. Poachers are taking the species to extinction and we are losing the war. I’m not going deeper in the conversation of poaching, Bea wrote an amazing post about it!
Back to the reserve, back to 2012.
We left the camp hoping to find the rhinos. We travelled for a long time until we finally saw some tracks. Again I was in the tracker seat so I had a job to do. Follow the tracks and find the rhinos.
The tracks were fresh, from last night at least. That meant we were close to them. “John” drove slowly to allow me to follow the tracks. The tracks were going all along the road.
Many animals decide to use the roads. Easier to walk, normally leads to water, they don’t make a sound while walking. It is used by predators to sneak on prey.
I followed the tracks for 20 minutes. Then the tracks took a sharp right into the bush. I signal to stop!
– Go back! – I said while signalling to go back.
“John” drove a little backwards and then stopped. I looked at the tracks and saw where they went.
– They went into the thickets! – I said.
– Everyone keep your eyes opened to the right! They might still be here. I’m going around – “John” said while turning the car back on and driving forward.
I also kept my eyes on the right. I was looking to the right and then to the road.
After 2 minutes the tracks returned to the road. I signal “John” that the tracks were back and I kept following them.
We arrived at a T-junction and “John” stopped.
– Where to? – “John” asked.
– To the right – I replied while signalling with my hand.
“John” turned right and continued driving. By now the tracks are starting to become more and more “brighter”, which means they are fresher. I kept my eyes on the road, not even looking forward or to the right hand-side. My focus was on the tracks.
The car starts to slow down but I’m too focused following the tracks. The car is getting slower and slower. I started wondering why “John” was slowing down. Maybe he is also trying to check the tracks, like he does many times. Then the car just stops. I’m still looking at the tracks and see that the tracks go to the right.
– The tracks went to the right – I said while turning to the back.
– I think we don’t need the tracks – “John” replied with a smile.
Everyone was smiling so I turned around to look in front of me. 5 rhinos right on the road!
– Rhinos! Rhinos! – I said while turning back to show them I found the rhinos.
– We know João. Thank you – “John” replied.
I finally see rhinos. It took a long time but there they were! Five amazing rhinos. This was before they started the dehorning. So it was amazing to see them with the horns. Rhinos usually form family groups, females and their young. I see two adult females and two teenage males with them. Then I see him. A little rhino calf.
– Look at the baby – I heard someone from the back of the car saying.
– Cute boy – said “John”.
He was full of energy. While the other rhinos were eating he was focused on playing. So much that he even challenged his big brother for a play fight. The difference in size was not a fair fight, but the little one was not scared or couldn’t even care about the size difference. He took some balance and charged towards his big brother.
After a few hits, he decided that maybe his brother was too big. Also the big brother was starting to get annoyed. Then he walks around looking for something to challenge and finds the car.
Rhino road block.
– What ‘s this? What weird animal it is! – maybe the little one thought – I should go and have a look.
The little one knew that mom would not approve playing with that animal. So he had to make a plan. He started to walk slowly to a shrub close to the car.
– Maybe if I pretend to eat, mom won’t notice – he thought (I think).
Well white-rhinos don’t feed on shrubs, only grass, so not a good move. But it was good enough to get closer to the car. He looks back to see where mom is. Mom is far away, behind a tree.
It is now or never! He has to take his chance! He comes slowly, trying not to make a sound. He gets to the front of the car and finds my feet. He smelled all the front parts of the car but only my feet smelled differently. Also, the front of the car is metal and hard. This thing is soft.
Little one challenging his big brother.
– The perfect toy – I sighted!
The little one starts playing with my feet. Hitting it with his little horn. I had no idea what to do so I stood still. I enjoyed this interaction with the rhino. Then I hear a loud snort!
– Purrfft! – mom said angry!
The little one’s ears that were up in joy, fell down in fear. He knows he’s not supposed to get close to the car. Mom is now starting to get nervous. Her baby might be in danger. I start to fear that I am not in a safe spot. That horn is big enough to hit my head, and she’s strong enough to turn the car.
The little one turns away and slowly walks back to mom. That walk when your kids did something wrong and they know it. When he arrives at mom, she gives him a little push. His ears went up again and ran to his big brother.
– Brother! Brother! Did you see me? I was so brave! I faced that animal all by myself! – he probably said.
After all this I remembered:
– Sh&t! My camera! – I said.
Everyone in the car laugh! No one took a photo of me and the rhino! Everyone was too focused!
This is a day that I will never forget!
PS: All rhinos have been dehorned in the Reserve. This was before the reserve did the dehorning.
