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maybe they were married

Jokes aside, can you imagine the sheer force and brutal power of such an encounter...
A fight between a male and a female, what can possibly trigger it?

Hi RP although very unusual there are occasionaly male/female fights. One in a reserve near me ended with the male killing the female - she was trying to protect a male calf from him. The calf was almost weaned and survived although the scaring from his wounds still makes him recognisable years later and he is now a terratorial bull himself.

Jeanus, I think you're right...

Look at this from the Rhino Resource Center:

http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/inde ... &highlite=



I'm sure the mother-in-law had something to do with it...

During a trip up to the bush some three weeks ago we witnessed a vicious fight between two Rhino.
We had just sighted Rhino in the bush and on stopping saw that there were 4 Rhino one of which was a calf. Suddenly another Rhino appeared out of the bush, large and very clearly a male. He moved closer to the other Rhinos and one by one they moved away leaving just the male and one other – this was a female and seemed to be the mother of the calf.
She steadfastly stood her ground despite constant manoeuvring of the large male. It is not clear what the intentions of the male were as both Rhinos stood head to head making a bellowing sound
Suddenly the male made a charge and the female turned, it is not clear what she was doing either. Then the male started using his horn and started attempting to dig into the female. He managed to gore her under the front right leg and the back rear leg. It appeared as if he wanted to lift her off the ground and get her to fall on her side.
The female put up a very ferocious defence and seemingly refused to succumb. All during this altercation she seemed to squeal (the noise she made was very high pitched and quite different to the bellowing sound they made before)
This continued for about ten minutes when all of a sudden the female had a very sudden change of attitude. Her stance changed dramatically from one of defence to one of attack – and the male’s attempts at goring her stopped – they once again stood head to head bellowing.
At this time we were able to see some of the damaged caused, the female was bleeding from the hind leg, and more so from the wound under her front leg. She had some facial wounds (see pic) The male also had some wounds but he moved behing bushes so it was not clear where he had been wounded
The female appeared to want to move off on her own but the male followed constantly. It is not clear if the male wanted to subdue the female so that he could mate with the female or whether there were other reasons for the fight. Subsequent questions to rangers did not get us any answers either.
Despite her wounds the female did not seem to be to hampered and we saw her two days later with her calf – no male to be seen

Nice story!

Here's a mom and calf on the Napi rocks road yesterday:





Sorry for quality, but a bit dark!

This little video only serves to record the squealing sounds made by the calf as daddy was approaching...

View My Video

Turn volume up to full!

RP, I can only view it till about half way. Is it my connection?

Apparently rhinos do make noises that are used for direct communication and vary from puffing sounds, snorts, a deep but quiet roar (not like a lion), squeals and shrieks. White rhino males will particularly emit high pitched squeal when trying to keep an estrus cow from leaving his territory. Snorts, honks and roars are used to maintain spacing between animals. Loud shrieks are used defensively and the squeak-pant is made by bulls that are chasing away other rhinos. When courtship occurs the male will make a soft hiccup-panting sound. These noises are generally only heard in the wild when there is no human disturbance. Rhino calves squeal when they want protection.

Hey, iNkwazi!

Just checked the video, it's fine!

In 2008 when we stayed at Croc Bridge we saw no rhino but this year when we went to Sirheni supposedly not a very good rhino area we still saw one between babalala picnic spot and punda Maria . What will Biyamiti give ?

Very rare indeed, Amedeus!

i have never seen rhino that far up, very lucky!!

Not seen in a SANpark

I see there is no thread on these animals.

Today for the first time I have managed to capture a Rhino marking it's territory by scent spraying. Not the clearest shot but you can see the spray.

Sprocky, great photo, showing something one hears about but don't necessarily see that often!

Mods, please merge this thread of Sprocky's into the existing one - Square-lipped Rhinoceros.

And it is maybe not a bad idea to change the name of the latter thread to include "white rhino" in there, as that may be what people are searching for, instead of "square-lipped".

awesome pic Sprocky!! Right place at the right time

Sprocky, it is PC incorrect to say White Rhino, It is now Square & hooked Lipped rhino, not Black & White.

Great pic & they say our valley has no rhino.