In the rhinos’ home at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi

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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is the place where the southern white rhino was saved from the brink of extinction in the previous century, by legendary conservationists like Ian Player. Today, the white rhino, and it’s smaller but much more aggressive cousin the black rhino, still find protection in this beautiful reserve, one of the oldest on the continent, where a force of dedicated rangers face a daily onslaught from armed poachers on their behalf.

During our December visit to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, we enjoyed some wonderful rhino sightings, not least of which the cute and playful little white rhino calf we told you about earlier in the week.

Black rhinos in an aggressive mood
Black rhinos in feeding mode
Attentive black rhino
Black rhino at a mud wallow
Black rhinos
White rhino
White rhinos
Keeping an eye on the spectators
White rhinos
White rhinos
White rhinos

This little fellow, one of the tiniest baby rhino we’ve ever seen and probably not much older than a few weeks, gives us hope that the hard-work of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi’s ranger-corps will not be in vane.

The tiniest baby rhino we’ve ever seen
The tiniest baby rhino we’ve ever seen
The tiniest baby rhino we’ve ever seen

 

 

31 thoughts on “In the rhinos’ home at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi”

  1. Pingback: Summer at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi | de Wets Wild

  3. Suyash Chopra

    Amazing blog with some cute photographs of this lovely animal. Its really sad that today mankind is killing these rhinos to meet their own selfish needs. In India, there is a Kaziranga National Park where one-horned rhinos are found and they are always under threat from poachers. Its very disturbing.

    I hope some day better sense will prevail, else our next generation may never see such wildlife on this earth. Thanks for sharing so much through your post 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. loisajay

    I am absolutely captivated with rhinos, thanks to your blog. It pains me to think of what people do for what, to these poor animals. Hopefully, security is good to keep these wonderful animals safe. Great post and photos.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thanks Lois!

      Unfortunately the poachers still strike regularly; we lost over 1,200 rhinos in this country alone last year. But if it wasn’t for the hard work of so many dedicated rangers, that figure would have been much, much higher.

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  6. MJF Images

    I wish I was as confident as you de Wets, about both the elephant and rhino. I wonder how far the ranching idea has gotten? There’s really no need to kill rhinos to harvest their horns. Having a bunch on ranches would be much better than having none at all. Oh well, it seems not enough people in the world care about wildlife. By the way, your photos really show well the difference between black and white rhinos. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing when I came across a pair of blacks, but their much more curious behavior sure did give it away!

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thanks Michael! Yep, the black rhinos might be smaller than their white cousins, but they sure have the “bigger” personalities 😉

      Our National Parks started translocating rhinos from high risk areas on the perimeter of the Kruger Park to safer areas deep into the Park, and (secret) high-security locations elsewhere last year, and as soon as the high temperatures of summer, which complicate the capture and transport of rhinos, subsides they’ll resume that operation with vigour. Don’t get me wrong, we are very worried about poaching, and the dispicable manner in which these enigmatic animals are killed for some peoples’ utterly stupid wants and beliefs, but we also know so many hard-working and dedicated people who will not allow South Africa’s rhinos to be driven to extinction on their watch.

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  8. Nature on the Edge

    Wonderful shots of these iconic creatures. It gives us hope that the conservation efforts in bringing back the white rhino from extinction could work again? The poaching stats are all rather bleak – 1215 last year and already 49 this year!

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  10. perdebytjie

    Pragtige foto’s! Ek hou veral van die twee wat lyk soos lekker sjokolade paaseiers na hul modderbad.Die kleintjie is kostelik!

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  12. scrapydotwo

    Hier is twee dae terug n wit renostertjie gebore in een van die bewaringstuine. Ek dink dis n sy as ek reg onthou. Sy gaan oor n paar jaar Australie toe vir teeldoeleindes(as alles goed afloop)

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