Tag: Rhino

Watch: Elephant becomes ‘drama queen’ when surprised by rhino

Footage from South Africa shows an elephant’s comical reaction after finding itself face to face with a much smaller rhinoceros.

Clearly, elephants do not appreciate surprise encounters involving other large animals. But do they have to be so dramatic?

The accompanying footage, shared Wednesday by South Africa’s MalaMala Game Reserve, shows an elephant reacting loudly and frightfully after coming face to face with a rhinoceros.

“An elephant being a bit of a drama queen,” MalaMala joked via X.

On Instagram, MalaMala pointed out that the bluff-charging rhino is brave despite missing a weapon with which it was born.

“No horn, no problem,” reads the description. (Rhino horns, which are sought by poachers, are sometimes removed in the wild to keep the animals safe.)

The footage was captured by David den Hartog, a ranger who might be among those heard chuckling while witnessing the amusing scene.

Watch: Rhino shows lion that ‘size matters at the waterhole’

Footage from South Africa shows a lion being forced by the rhino to wait its turn before approaching for a drink.

When a small watering hole is occupied by a large rhinoceros, even a mighty lion must wait its turn before approaching for a drink.

The accompanying footage, captured this week at Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa, shows a thirsty lion walking toward a watering hole, only to be rebuffed by a rhino.

“Size matters at the waterhole,” Mala Mala stated via X.

The wary lion was compelled to circle widely behind the rhino and wait for the larger animal to leave before approaching to sip water.

Mala Mala Game Reserve shares an unfenced border with sprawling Kruger National Park and lies within Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

Large animal encounters are fairly common for guests on photo safaris.

Watch: Elephant, rhino square off in surreal ‘clash of titans’

Footage has surfaced showing an elephant and rhinoceros squaring off for battle in what was billed as a ‘clash of titans.’

Credit the rhinoceros for standing up to the much larger elephant in what was described as a “clash of titans” in India.

But in the end, the surreal nighttime matchup posted below produced a predictable result.

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The grainy footage, shared by Susanta Nanda of the Indian Forest Service, shows the rhino and elephant posturing for battle, with the rhino mounting the first charge.

But the elephant, all the while figuring how to end the battle with a single maneuver, ultimately positioned its bulk onto the rhino and pinned the smaller animal with the help of its tusks.

The rhino, possibly gored, was subsequently able to flee.

As one follower noted, “If you ever questioned why are there different weight categories in wrestling/boxing, this is the reason. The Elephant just put his weight on the Rhino till the Rhino threw in the towel.”

It was not clear who captured the footage, but it began to circulate on social media this week.

Rhino sneaks up on sleeping dog, gives it a scare in hilarious video

A dog sound asleep on the side of a road nearly came out of its skin when a rhino strolled up from behind and gently touched it.

A dog sound asleep on the side of a road nearly came out of its skin when a rhino strolled up and gently touched it.

The dog woke from a deep sleep, lazily tilted its head back and, in a split second, recognized what was behind it and immediately ran off barking, probably trying to tell it to never do that again.

Video of the hilarious encounter was posted on Twitter by Susanta Nanda of the Indian Forest Service. He wrote, “If you wanted any proof that the Rhinos are really gentle…”

The footage was filmed in the village of Ratnagar in southern Nepal, according to Metro.co.uk.

“Greater one-horned rhinos live in northeastern India and southern Nepal, but poaching and habitat loss mean that there are now only around 3,700 left,” Metro wrote.

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“Luckily for the dog, all five species of rhinos are herbivores, eating mainly vegetation.

“So, it wasn’t ever in danger of being eaten – though being sat on definitely wouldn’t have been fun either.”

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Baby rhino rescued via helicopter after poachers kill its mother

A rhinoceros calf that was left to fend for itself after poachers in South Africa killed its mother has been rescued via helicopter and taken to a rhino orphanage.

When poachers kill rhinos for their horns, calves that are left behind are almost certain to perish. But for one newly orphaned calf, there’s hope for recovery and, eventually, a return to the wild.

According to the nonprofit, African Wildlife Vets, a ranger and veterinarian for Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in South Africa spotted the de-horned rhino carcass this week while conducting an aerial search for buffalo.

Wandering nearby was the 6-week-old male rhino calf.

African Wildlife Vets described what happened next on Facebook:

“Dr. Rowan Leeming immobilized the small calf and they placed it on the back seat of the helicopter. The calf was rushed to the Zululand Rhino Orphanage where he was given a drip to rehydrate him and rhino plasma to strengthen his immune system.

“The experienced team at the orphanage will do everything they can to ensure his recovery and then his well being until he is old enough to be released back into the wild.”

Zululand Rhino Orphanage has shared photos and videos via Instagram showing the baby rhino, blindfolded to keep him calm, receiving care from staff.

Rhinos are poached for their keratin-rich horns, which are sold in Asian markets and used largely for medicinal purposes.

Rhinoceros populations have been decimated – about 27,000 wild rhinos exist globally, down from 70,000 in 1970 – and few rhinos survive outside national parks and reserves.

The intentional removal of rhino horns by conservations inside reserves is now a common method designed to keep the animals safe from poachers.

Watch: Brave lion swats massive rhino’s tail, as if on a dare

In what was described as a “most phenomenal encounter,” amused tourists witnessed a playful lion mustering the courage to swat the tail of a massive white rhino.

In what was described as a “most phenomenal encounter,” amused tourists witnessed a playful lion mustering the courage to swat the tail of a massive white rhino.

The accompanying footage, captured last week at Mongena Private Game Lodge in South Africa, shows young lions of the Nkawu pride circling two rhinos grazing in a meadow.

“The youngsters were so intrigued by these enormous animals that the one ended up fly-swatting the tail of one of the rhinos,” the lodge stated on Facebook.

One viewer observed: “I love how he stretches the hand and only touches the rhino, then runs.”

To which the lodge responded, “Possibly dared by the others?”

In the footage, the lions are, indeed, wary in the company of such powerful and unpredictable beasts. But at the 30-second mark one lion inches close enough to tap a rhino’s tail with its paw.

Both rhinos turned to face the startled lions, and that signaled the end of the game.

The Mongena Private Game Lodge bills itself as a Big 5 lodge, in reference to iconic animals known to roam within its boundaries: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo.

–Image courtesy of Mongena Private Game Reserve

Rare battle between rhino and buffalo caught on video

A ranger in South Africa’s Kariega Game Reserve has captured “extremely rare” footage showing a white rhinoceros in head-to-head battle with a Cape buffalo.

A ranger in a South African game reserve has captured “extremely rare” footage showing a white rhinoceros in head-to-head battle with a ferocious buffalo.

The tale of the tape favors the rhino – they can weigh nearly 6,000 pounds – but the 1,500-pound Cape buffalo proved a worthy and formidable opponent.

“The incredible strength of both species is on display here as well as the obstinate nature of the buffalo!” Kariega Game Reserve wrote on Facebook. “Completed with great commentary by the guests present.”

In the footage, best viewed with sound, other buffalo gather around the combatants as if to enjoy a better view. A female rhino and her calf observe from a safer distance.

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Remarkably, the same ranger and guide, Wayne Deryck Howarth, captured footage three years ago showing a battle involving the same rhino and possibly the same buffalo.

Kariega Game Reserve stated that the male rhino had recently been trailing the female rhino and her calf and “is probably full of romance and testosterone.”

The reserve described what the tour group witnessed as “an extremely rare sighting.”

–Image courtesy of Kariega Game Reserve