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Behaviour - Towards Man |
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Black Rhino |
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The natives are certainly as much afraid of him as they are of the Elephant, although in the opinion of most hunters he is classed as the least dangerous of all the larger game.
The probable reasons for the very different opinions as to the risks of shooting Rhino is that the nature of the beast itself differs according to locality. In the Baringo district, for example, I found them particularly pugnacious, while in French Equatorial Africa they would try to beat a retreat even when startled by sudden approach. When wounded the beast will often revolve in a circle before dashing madly away or dropping dead. Should it bear down on the sportsman it is wiser to try and turn it by a shot, for if it catches sight of a flying figure it will often take up the chase like a terrier after a rat.
The moment a Rhino gets your wind its head and tail go up to the accompaniment of a loud grunting snort. For its bulk it is extraordinarily quick on its feet and covers the ground at a great speed. A cow with a calf is an exceptionally dangerous animal, and in approaching a Rhino the utmost care should be taken to spot it before it discovers you, a difficult matter in the dense country in which it is usually found.
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Rhinoceros
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