Rhinos are rare and endangered animals, as most people know. Hunted to near extinction for their horns — used in traditional Asian medicine and for making dagger handles — they now mostly survive in protected areas and zoos. They’ve made a modest comeback, and hopefully the trend will continue.
I’ve only ever seen 4 rhinos in the wild, all in the Ngorongoro Crater. They’re magnificent animals — imposing, unforgettable. In the above photo, the massive lumbering rhino is contrasted with dozens of small, graceful Thompson gazelles (Tommies) leaping across the floor of the crater. I wish I’d captured the scene on video. It sort of crystallized the African game-watching experience for me — the great admixture and fluid interactions of all the animals.
