We have only a couple of of super rare Black Rhinos on our reserve, and we quasi never see them, as they are part of our conservation efforts, and are very protected. This is a truly rare species of Rhinos! All Rhinos are highly endangered, but this sub-species much more so than the White Rhino.
Now Black Rhinos are not called that because they are darker, but rather as opposed to White Rhinos (the term “white” was a wrong translation of “wyd”, which means “wide”). White Rhinos have wide mouths, as they are grazers, and Black Rhinos eat leaves off trees and bush, so they have more pointy mouths. But color-wise, they are really the same. Black Rhinos are also a little smaller than White Rhinos.
The Black Rhino is one of the crassest examples of how humans have caused havoc on earth. Of the 7 known sub-species of Black Rhinos, 3-4 are now considered extinct, and 2 more are on the very brink. It is only due to stubborn conservation efforts on private game reserves, such as ours, that the population of some of them is kept secure for future generations (that will hopefully recognise that we humans should share).
So you can imagine the joy of our rangers to see one of our few Black Rhinos doing well on the reserve, and our guests were spoilt with one of the very rarest sightings you can possibly imagine when out on an African safari. If sightings were categorised as gems, then this would be the pink flawless 5 carat diamond. Period. What a joy.
Our guests (past, current and future!) must also be aware that their visits contribute to the ongoing funding and safekeeping of these highly endangered animals, so seeing these animals also means seeing the good that you guys are doing by traveling from far afield to see and witness the vast beauty of this world, and appreciating it. And that’s something to be mindful of, and also to be proud of.
Here the beautiful photo that a guest of ours made of the Black Rhino we saw 2 days ago. Great shot!
