Daly, M., 1937. Big game hunting and adventure 1887-1936. London, MacMillan, pp. i-xi, 1-322
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| Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Kenya |
| Subject: |
Behaviour - Towards Man |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Comparison with buffalo
Much has been said about the comparative aggressiveness of buffalo and rhino. Some hold that a rhino is easier turned than a buffalo, and so on. Lone buffalo bulls will often be found, like rhinos, trying to get away and avoid trouble, and their intentions are just as easily detected as the rhinos'. Through light bush or across a clearance in a death charge there is little between them. The one is just as easily met and dropped or turned as the other, or just as difficult, as the case may be. I have met death-charging buffaloes under every conceivable condition, and sometimes with an ordinary ten-seven-five have put down a bull at very close quarters and stood to see what its attitude would be when it rose again, full in view of the bull some ten paces away. Some have risen, shaken themselves and come in again, while others, after rising and looking at me hard, have tried to get away. Rhinos have, from time to time, done the same thing, as I stood and waited to see the next move after rising. I am speaking of those animals which I knew were not hit fatally but just knocked down with a stunning blow. Some rhinos have risen and cast round for sight of me and, as I coughed to indicate my position, come right in again to fight it out to the death. Others have turned and fled back to cover which I always allowed them to reach, but not the buffalo bull, which I seldom allowed to get away once it tackled me.
Rhinos in the open are the easier target as they come straight in; but in the thick thorn-scrub they are more difficult to stop. Again, pushed for time and space, I have loosed off a quick shot at a charging buffalo bull plunging out of thick cover a few yards away, hitting it anywhere in front so as to gain time for a steadier shot. On the first blow they have swerved and tried to get away. Rhinos have often done just the same thing and been allowed to get away, unless required.
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Big game hunting and adventure 1887-1936
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