Although there is a certain number of each species of Rhino in both these reserves, the Umfolosi is still, at present, the main stronghold of the White Rhinoceros while the Black species mainly favours the Hluhluwe. The White Rhinoceros is, of course, a grazer: and con- sequently the more sparsely wooded Umfolosi reserve possibly suits it better than the areas of extremely dense thorny scrub which cover a large proportion of the Hluhluwe - so appropriate for the browsing Black Rhino. At any rate the Umfolosi reserve is now reputed to harbour close upon 200 White Rhinos, while about fifteen are said to be present in suitable portions of the Hluhluwe. The two reserves are in close proximity to one another, and it would be pleasing if the narrow intervening strip of barren country could be included so as to form one complete sanctuary.
The droppings of the animal are very like those of a Cow Elephant in size and form - quite different and much larger than those of the Black Rhino - and are black in colour.
Visit to Hluhluwe, South Africa Drawing of white rhinoceros in this paper.
The only sound I recorded (apart from alarm snorts) occurred when a bull and cow which we had been filming at 40 yards suddenly got our scent and rushed away at astonishing speed. One of them uttered a most peculiar noise, something like the deep, gasping final grunts of a stallion's whinny.
The colour is certainly a lighter shade of slate-grey than that of the Black Rhino, though it cannot by the widest stretch of imagination be called white! Nevertheless, the smooth texture of the skin does produce a sort of 'white shiny' appearance when noticed at a distance in brilliant sunlight.
The droppings of the animal are very like those of a Cow Elephant in size and form - quite different and much larger than those of the Black Rhino - and are black in colour.
The kindly, good-tempered White Rhinoceros, however, entirely lacks the impetuosity of his smaller but more irritable relative. Standing approximately 6 feet at the shoulder, with an amazing hump on the back of his neck, be moves about with a gentle, ponderous dignity that swiftly puts the peacefully disposed ?hunter' at ease with him. Provided you are careful about the wind, and are reasonably quiet in approach, you can advance to within 20 yards or so with little risk of danger excepting that which may arise from a suddenly startled and bewildered creature. Only once did we experience anything in the nature of a charge from a White Rhino, and in this case I am of the opinion that the unusual behaviour of the beast was due to bewilderment and his defective eyesight. Startled at our approach, a pair of White Rhinos were trotting away in a direction which would take them past a certain large bushclump, so, jumping out of the car, I followed our splendid Zulu guide to the cover of the clump, expecting to film them as they issued round the other side. Hardly had we taken up position than round they came, the cow leading. They passed at about 25 yards, and I commenced to film. Instantly the bull swung about and headed straight towards us! He came at a clumsy, shambling trot, and my guide promptly waved his arms and shouted. For a second the monster hesitated, and then to our amazement he came on again, while the guide now danced and yelled more wildly, finally clutching, me hastily out of the way. At this demonstration the Rhino was clearly unnerved, for he swung round and rapidly galloped after his retreating cow. He was within about 10 yards of us when he finally turned. My impression was that he had been completely bewildered, firstly by the whirring of the camera and later by the noise, and that it was only when he became aware of our movements that he realized the cause of the hubbub, when he retired distinctly more quickly than he had advanced !
The droppings of the animal are very like those of a Cow Elephant in size and form - quite different and much larger than those of the Black Rhino - and are black in colour.
The colour is certainly a lighter shade of slate-grey than that of the Black Rhino, though it cannot by the widest stretch of imagination be called white! Nevertheless, the smooth texture of the skin does produce a sort of 'white shiny' appearance when noticed at a distance in brilliant sunlight.
A most memorable occasion was that when the two guides who were accompanying us, located and led us up to a slumbering family of five White Rhinos at midday. They lay flat upon their sides-like gigantic pigs-amongst the grass in the shade of a magnificent Umkudzlu tree. The family consisted of a fine bull, two adult cows, a half-grown individual, and a small calf with a quaint little ?button' in place of his future formidable anterior horn.
As usual, tick-birds (Buphaga) hunted about the hides of their great hosts. Suddenly one of these watchful birds noticed us, and, uttering a harsh, long-drawn ?chirrrrr' it fluttered anxiously into the air. Instantly the monsters stirred restlessly : tiny, almond-shaped eyes opened : and the series of sensitive trumpets became tensely alert !
standing 6 feet at shoulder
