Science Museum, London
Digital collection 1983-5236/19936
Photograph of baby rhinoceros Rupert playing with David and Diana Condy, after the creation of Lake Kariba in Rhodesia – Zimbabwe
The photographic library of the ‘Daily Herald’ newspaper
1962 in Zimbabwe
Caption on back reads: “Water in Lake Kariba, which already contains 1500 square miles of water, continues to rise behind one of the largest dams in the world, and as it rises it very often traps wild-life on small newly made islands. It is the function of ‘Operation Noah’ — as it has become known to the wold — to rescue from drowning, animals which have become trapped on these new islands. The service of these rescue operations continues and the latest story of survival is that of a young rhinocerous called Rupert, who at six-weeks-old was trapped on one such island with his mother.
Though his mother died in the rescue baby Rupert — all 150 pounds of him — survived and was taken in hand by government vetrinary surgeon, Mr J.B. Condy, who eventually took him home for his family to look ater at their home near Salisbury, southern Rhodesia, where he now lives in a specially heated garage and is fed milk from a bottle.
The Condy children, Michael, Katherine, David and Diana all hope that he will not become too tame during during his stay with them, as one day he will have to be transferred to the Great Wankie Game Reserve, where he willhave to fend for himself’
Daily Herald photograph by Capa, Zimbabwe, 5 June 1962.
https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8617651/photograph-of-baby-rhinocerous-rupert-playing-with-david-and-diana-condy.
