SANParks.org Forums

I was in Kruger this past weekend and noticed a couple of the white rhinos near croc bridge had markings on them as if someone had taken a purple marker and drawn on them. One in particular had a huge cross on its back. Could anyone explain what this would be for? Could they possible be marked for capture and release into other parks?

I am fairly sure the rhinos had been captured for some reason. I have been on a few of these, and the vets spray an antiseptic/antibiotic on any open wounds/scatches they see. It is coloured purple so they can see where it has been applied.

Maybe the cross was to ensure they could find that particular rhino again from the air.....or avoid it for some reason. Some rhinos do not take well to capture and will refuse to eat in the bomas and have to be released again - perhaps it was one of these and they need to be sure they do not capture it again?????? Many reasons are possible, of course!

EJ is correct.

It would not be to mark them for capture. To do that marking, they would have to be darted and marked, released and then re darted within a short time, and captured. Darting an animal is not good for its health and it is done only when absolutely necessary.

Animals which are captured for release in other parks are captured and held in a boma until they are transported.

Thanks guys... am back in a few weeks so will keep an eye out for that rhino

We saw these two Rhinos about a month ago. Sadly, when we went to check up on them, we got the news that one of them was poached. Poaching is an increasing problem facing South Africa’s rhinoceros population. Only about 11,000 white rhinos survive in the wild, and many organizations are working to protect this much loved animal.

its most likely to show identifacation if it has either been tagged or vaccinated so that they dont do it again

I just cant comprehend how anyone can just walk up to a beautiful beast like this and shoot a magazine of AK-47 bullets into it and watch it slowly die in order to cut half its face off

Strange behaviour a year ago on the H-10...

This rhino was enjoying its mud bath, and got chased out by the buff on the right...actually touched!



So it went after the other buff!



(All pretty much slow motion...not exactly a fight to the death! )





Lost the $%%^# video footage!

This on the Nwatimhiri Road today:

These must be the stupidest animals in Kruger, just my opinion!

View My Video

First time I've ever been stopped by a herd of rhino...took about 40 minutes!





They are so dumb.

How we got through is an email story!

@RP

First time I ever saw rhino's hanging around in the road like that .

They look rather agitated on your video. Were they or is the video just "fast"?

Is it a good idea to post their location so soon after you saw them? A week or so later shouldn't make a difference, but same day?

2 April 2010 , 2nd car in at Malelane , made off for a quiet road en route to the central KNP . Near the beginning of S118 Mlambane loop these 2 were wallowing in a drift in the road after heavy rain the previous night , I chose to let them enjoy the time for about 20 minutes , they remained in the road then this one came closer and touched the car bumper , leaving a scratch .

They were slow and confused...don't know about agitated, but we were, a bit!

(The Nwatimhiri is a long road...)

Complete rhino with baby! Near ****** (Kruger) beginning July 2011.

A photo from the future!

People, please remember to leave out the locations!