Amboseli NP, Kenya - pinnae absent. It was in 1953 that Gertie settled in at her new home bringing with her a newly born bull calf. This little oddity had only half a tail, and no ears at all, and soon received the name of 'Pixie'. The two presented a rare sight. The mother with the incredibly long horn and the curious little son with just two holes where the ears should be.
'Tukai' was a near full grown rhino who, quite unconcerned about the noises of the camp, took up his quarters in front of the lodge. He excelled the day Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret came to stay at Amboseli by standing in full view of the royal party just beyond the garden fence. Unfortunately he fell to the lions and was eaten after he was killed in a remarkable battle by the two full grown sons of Kania.
With all this attention Gertie became so tame that she would lie in a dust bath with her offspring and allow several cars at a time to approach within 30 feet and not bother to get up and often just continue to sleep. There have been incidents: when she refuses to move some unkind visitor, wanting action in his pictures, may deliberately drive his vehicle at her and on such occasions she will take her calf off and disappear into the bush to sulk for several days and not be seen. Such behaviour is as good as a report to us that there is,: or has been, a hooligan in the area who has disturbed her, as she seldom otherwise hides herself except when calving or mating.
Amboseli NP, Kenya - pinnae absent. It was in 1953 that Gertie settled in at her new home bringing with her a newly born bull calf. This little oddity had only half a tail, and no ears at all, and soon received the name of 'Pixie'. The two presented a rare sight. The mother with the incredibly long horn and the curious little son with just two holes where the ears should be.
