~~~~~~
It was a toss-up but decided to stay in Africa
for my memories post
Scuba diving in Botswana.
Rhinoceros
Meet Nosy and Rosy…my name for these two cubs.One Word Photo Challenge-Rhinoceros
~~~~~
My rhinoceros photos are not zoo pics…
They were taken in a Sanctuary in Africa which is
guarded twenty-four hours a day,
365 days each year.
Signs of poaching a dealt with on a
‘shoot first ask questions later‘ basis.
It would be ice to think that if this
beautiful specimen has gone to rhino heaven
that passing was of natural causes
and not due to a poacher.
~~~~~
One Word Photo Challenge: Rhinoceros
THURSDAY’S SPECIAL-November-Words
November Words
Two dormant pups.
I think salubrious would be
a great adjective to describe
the Burj Al Arab.
An earmarked rhinoceros.
Schönbrunn Palace was certainly owned by influential people of the era.
A fun-loving…
Red Headed Weaver from our
Botswana travels.
~~~~~
Thursday’s Special: November-Words
Weekly Photo Challenge-Pedestrian
~~~~~
My contribution for this week’s challenge…
Pedestrian
~~~~~
When I think of pedestrian I think of people
that I need to give way to if I am driving.
Or something may move at a pedestrian pace…slowly.
In Africa the animals are the pedestrians which
often move at a pedestrian pace.
It is far better to wait for some, such as this rhino,
until they have crossed the road.
Similarly a good idea not to upset
the gentle giants of the land.
Some small impala you think you could bluff…
DC Photography
until, he who never looks comes
bounding out of the scrub
Then there are pedestrians who cause traffic chaos
with their sit down strikes.
This lot even sent out a parking inspector to
make sure we were all doing the right thing.
A post about pedestrians would not be complete
without a zebra crossing image.
Zebras will never die of high blood pressure.
On this day, they even took time out
to gawk at the tourists.
~~~~~
~~~~~
One Word Photo Challenge-Glue
~~~~~
Glue.
Towards the end…
of our first African Safari…
we all agreed…
that it was sights like these…
which held Africa’s tourist trade…
in place.
In essence, these sights were the ‘glue’…
for without these sightings to see and photograph…
Africa’s tourist trade would fall dramatically.
Which is why poaching of any description,
or trade in the products of these animals, must cease.
In my opinion and that of others as well.
~~~~~
One Word Photo Challenge: Glue
Weekly Photo Challenge-Signs
~~~~~
My contribution for this week’s challenge…
Signs
~~~~~
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary was our second stop in Botswana.
As the sign states, the Rhinoceros population here is being watched over….
if fact cared for by a military guard.
Signs indicated…
where to eat,
the most important place of all on a hot day,
and of course that swimming was available.
This sign was self-explanatory.
I just love the placement of this sign…
in the background is a temporary canvas restaurant, and bar, and…
to the left are the beginnings of the new restaurant,
the previous restaurant having burned down,
This photo is a sure sign of better things to come.
Rule number three states: ‘Driving is not allowed after dark’.
We were told that this because the sanctuary is guarded twenty-four hours a day
by members of a nearby military camp…
and to re-enforce this statement we had noted these towers,
during our drive around the sanctuary.
Another sign of poaching problems.
Poaching Rhinoceros for their (keratin-fingernail) horn is so bad that in
excess of 1,000 rhinoceros were killed in South Africa alone, in 2013,
…just for the horn.
That is nearly 3 rhinos shot dead
EACH & EVERY
day during 2013.
I did hear that even a foetus had its horn removed
The policy here, is ‘shoot first ask questions later’.
I was not about to test the policy!
Graph 1, data published by South African Department of Environmental Affairs (2014)
http://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/poaching_statistics
By my calculations, the 2013 figure of
1004 deaths
will be
exceeded
this year
~~~~~
~~~~~
A-Z Challenge-SSS
~~~~~
My contribution this week’s SSS challenge.
~~~~~
… a scratching Rhino …
~~~~~
Sun baking lions.
~~~~~
A setting sun.
~~~~~
Finally, a slumbering leopard.
~~~~~
S-S-S-challenge
by frizztext
~~~~~
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~~~~~
My first Rhino ‘sighting’
This post is for firstandfabulous and robsreallife who both commented on seeing another animal shape in my last Which Way post.
~~~~~
A couple of other readers made similar remarks. I did promise to post my most embarrassing ‘sighting’ in Kruger National Park.
~~~~~
Our driver stopped to point out the rhino in the distance. I was quite adamant that I had a rhino in sight…the small scrubby tree right in the middle of the photo! After noting that my fellow travellers were pointing/looking in another direction I trained my lens on my “rhino” only to see that it was a tree… 😦
~~~~~
…it was actually a hundred metres to my right. Oops!
It wasn’t the only Oops I had during the trip.
~~~~~
It was hot and the heat haze did not help…at least that’s my excuse. Fortunately we had much closer sightings later on in our travels.
~~~~~
Related articles
- South Africa loses 100 rhinos in a month (skynews.com.au)
- Rhino poaching hits new record in South Africa (theguardian.com)
- There “used to be” Rhinos (woollymuses.wordpress.com)
- Kenya to microchip every rhino’s horn… (telegraph.co.uk)
- Rhino Poaching Deaths Set For Record High (dailydailynews.wordpress.com)
- Rhino horn poaching reaches new record in South Africa (abc.net.au)
- Goin on Safari! (majtravelblog.wordpress.com)
- Experts were right: rhino toll could be 1,000 before 2013 ends (thestar.blogs.com)
- Prince William, David Beckham Join Battle to Save Endangered Rhino’s (kevinscatalog.wordpress.com)
Wordless Wednesday-Rhinoceros
~~~~~
After my earlier Rhino reblog I thought this photo of a Black Rhinoceros appropriate for
Wordless Wednesday
~~~~~
We just felt like getting out and scratching the itch in this bloke’s eye to save him the trouble.
~~~~~
Wordless Wednesday (create-with-joy.com)
~~~~~
Craftyspices.com_Wordless Wednesday
~~~~~
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There “used to be” Rhinos
African rhinos will soon be extinct….a matter of a couple of years at the present rate poaching. It can only be described as fascinating to have seen them in their own environment. We hope to return soon….and all fellow travellers agreed that this was the future of Africa, the tourist dollar, and that simply killing the animals was abhorrent.
Just back from Kenya. What an amazing experience-getting to see, hear and live the culture I’ve heard so much about! I’ve learned new things, made new friends, and of course was “over the moon” seeing all the magnificent wildlife I love so much.
My prized memory was at Ol Pejeta; seeing a black rhino in the distance. After a bit, he came galloping out of the bush at us. He stood there for minute or so as if sizing us up, then turned and ran back. It was incredible.
There were a few rhino in the Lake Nakuru area as well. But, having been to Samburu, Amboseli, and Masaai Mara, the one disturbing theme was “There used to be rhinos here.” There are now none in Samburu or Amboseli, and rare spottings in the Mara.
With poaching stats at almost 800 for this year alone, it’s no wonder they’re so…
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