"Look what I've found"

[Ann]

Rhinos don't do this very often (and this is the only time that I have witnessed it) but two White Rhinos decided on a sunset bathe and mud-wallow on this particular evening

[Anthony]

So that's what a rhino's horn is for!

Beautiful detail.

[Lars Hansen]

Rhinos don't do this very often (and this is the only time that I have witnessed it) but two White Rhinos decided on a sunset bathe and mud-wallow on this particular evening

Magnificent and fun portrait, Ann - hopefully the White Rhino will prevail as a species.

[Ann]

Anthony and Lars: Thank you for your very kind comments.
Seeing rhinos playing in the muddy water was a very unexpected and wonderful encounter

The Rhino poaching situation in South Africa is indeed of great concern as there are less than 13,000 White Rhinos left in the country and more than 420 fall to poachers every year.

The South African government is waging the war on the poachers in several ways:
Catching and jailing the poachers is one option.
Surgically dehorning the rhinos is another option as it renders them valueless to poachers but makes the animals unable to protect themselves. Dehorned animals are also less photogenic.
Another option is to move animals further west and away from the eastern ports which are believed to be heavily involved in this illegal trade.

Black Rhinos are even more rare and only number about 2000 in South Africa.
I have seen Black Rhinos very rarely but will post images of some of them.

[Akira]

Another great example of patience and luck!  Thank you, as always, for sharing, Ann.

What is the purpose of the mud-wallowing?   To keep the moisture in the skin, for the protection against UV or both?

[armando_m]

Ann, thanks for sharing this magnificent photo

[John Geerts]

Ann, thanks for sharing this magnificent photo

Yes, thanks for sharing, Ann.  Great photo.

[Thomas Stellwag]

thanks for sharing, its a very good picture

[Ann]

Akira, Armando, Thomas and John: Thank you all for your very kind remarks.

Akira, I don't know why rhinos like rolling in the mud but it may be just for fun or to rid themselves from the thousands of Ticks which torment them.

I promised to lookout some Black Rhino photographs. This guy had been in quite a fierce fight and was in no mood to chase us so we were able to get quite close and spend quite a long time with him.

"Black", in his name, refers to the Black River where European settlers first spotted them while "White" (used for another breed of Rhino) is a corruption of the Dutch word for a wide mouth.

This is a close-up of the Black Rhino we  found at Phinda:



and this is a longer shot:

[Thomas Stellwag]

wow, the first one is impressive -  the best Rhino picture I have seen so far

[Hugh_3170]

Ann, all three shots are impressive - however the gash in "Black's" right side does not look quite so impressive for him.

Are these new images or new edits of older images?  Great detail.

[ARTUROARTISTA]

Akira, Armando, Thomas and John: Thank you all for your very kind remarks.

Akira, I don't know why rhinos like rolling in the mud but it may be just for fun or to rid themselves from the thousands of Ticks which torment them.

I promised to lookout some Black Rhino photographs. This guy had been in quite a fierce fight and was in no mood to chase us so we were able to get quite close and spend quite a long time with him.

"Black", in his name, refers to the Black River where European settlers first spotted them while "White" (used for another breed of Rhino) is a corruption of the Dutch word for a wide mouth.

This is a close-up of the Black Rhino we  found at Phinda:




and this is a longer shot:

the photos are magnificent,

[Akira]

Akira, I don't know why rhinos like rolling in the mud but it may be just for fun or to rid themselves from the thousands of Ticks which torment them.

Ah, that makes more sense.  Thank you for the explanation and additional amazing images of the black rhino!

[golunvolo]

Beautiful take of an impressive specimen.

  Thanks for sharing it

[Anthony]

Magnificent beasts.