 Reference Base  The mammals of the southern African subregion, new edition |
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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Behaviour - Towards Man |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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While they have a reputation for being irascible and bad-tempered, this depends on circumstances and the individual. Normally human scent will make them move off, but their reactions depend on whether they have been hunted or harried, or left in peace, and they do sometimes charge from 50 to 70 m away. A charging black rhinoceros may swing away from a rifle shot or, at closer quarters, to a loud shout, and they seldom return to press home an attack. They are unlikely to charge uphill and like to retreat into cover. When seriously annoyed or when wounded they may work out their anger on inanimate objects such as bushes or termite mounds, attacking them with lowered horns, and demolishing them.
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