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We saw this one on our trip in May Only one we did see and he looks like he has had a bit of a battle.

Goodness!

He certainly put up a fight with a rival by the look of him - would be incredible to see.

in the second Elsa's picture, we can see the mouth of a Black Rhino

are you sure is not the work of a bad man

I looked at the mouth and yes, it seems suspect, but it is not clear from behind that bush.

I am more looking at the rest of the Rhino and it has a much more prominent skin fold on the front legs than I would like for Black Rhino and the back is almost dead straight and not concave as for a Black Rhino. It also seems to keep a very low head and the animal in general just shows a more bulkier frame which all points more to White Rhino.

Elsa, do you perhaps have any more photos of this beast?

Just to come up for Elsa,

The rhino in the pictures are 100% black rhino . The hair on the tips of the ears and the small head is a clear indication of the species. There is no doubt that Elsa saw a black rhino grazing. The bruise to the skin just behind the front legs are also typical of Black rhino.

Hi DrPhil,

I am no expert on animals, just an interested everyday enthusiast. Therefore the telltale signs such as hair on the ear tips is unknown to me. Thanks for that. I will keep that in mind.

But I can tell you that the skin lacerations and infection on Rhino legs occur definitely on White Rhino as well. I have seen it myself during a visit to the Skukuza boma back in the days when the famous "Oortjies" was kept there and it was explained to me by non other than the famous KNPSpokeman from days gone bye.

I am still not convinced that it is a black Rhino, even though as I said earlier that the lip does look hooked, but the bush could make that a tad misleading.

But would love to be proved wrong on this.

Would love to hear comments from other forum members.

Cheers!

Wiltuinman, I should have stated that the hair on the ears must be black for a black rhino it is also thicker than the hair on a white rhino's ears.....

The reason the rhino Elsa photographed has a straight back is because his head is down. If he lifted his head the back will get the kink back.... Because the heads normal position is up it needs to arch its back to get his lips to the ground. On a White rhino with his head down there will still be a kink to the back.

The head is also way to small in comparison to the body to be a white rhino.

Thanks DrPhil.

Clearly a black rhino lip in the second pic of Elsa.