White Rhino thirst

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

One can not help but wonder how long we will still see these fantastic creatures roaming free. The two bulls (on the right) have already been quenching their thirst when the cow and her two calves quietly appeared from the bushes and joined them. There was an uneasy truce as they quietly sipped their drinks. Then the mom and bull stared head-on at each other for a few minutes, after which the two parties walked off into their own directions again.

The animal on the left is a touch out of focus but a narrower aperture was not a luxury on offer here.

D600 + Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 @ 70mm
f/6.3 | 1/800s | 4000 ISO | Handheld
The belt of Venus enhanced a bit in LR.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Tobie - It's great that you got to see so many rhinos at one time. i was a little dismayed on my recent trip to realize how many fewer rhinos I saw overall in the reserves outside Kruger. On previous trips I saw many more. While the reserves I visited do extremely well with their conservation and anti-poaching efforts, some of the adjacent reserves are not having the same success. So unfortunately when the rhinos cross out of the reserves, the worst can and does happen with some frequency.

As for the image, I love the wide view and inclusion of the habitat. I'm not sure about such a difference in the colors of the two sets of rhinos. For me, the treatment of the belt of venus goes too far.

TFS,
Rachel

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Hi Tobie - It's great that you got to see so many rhinos at one time. i was a little dismayed on my recent trip to realize how many fewer rhinos I saw overall in the reserves outside Kruger. On previous trips I saw many more. While the reserves I visited do extremely well with their conservation and anti-poaching efforts, some of the adjacent reserves are not having the same success. So unfortunately when the rhinos cross out of the reserves, the worst can and does happen with some frequency. As for the image, I love the wide view and inclusion of the habitat. I'm not sure about such a difference in the colors of the two sets of rhinos. For me, the treatment of the belt of venus goes too far. TFS, Rachel

Thanks for commenting Rachel! Fewer and fewer owners of reserves are prepared to keep rhinos these days due to the risks involved - and the cost, should one of them being 'harvested' for its horn. Even in Kruger they are not seen in abundance anymore as they are being moved to guarded areas.

The bulls obviously found a red mud patch to roll in - therefore their difference in colors compared to the others. The sky was a little over exposed by the settings needed for the rhinos (and lost all colors) and the belt of Venus naturally made its appearance as I burnt it to reflect what I've seen with the naked eye.

[John Mack]

Nice scene captured here. Like how all the rhinos are drinking. Color in the sky is nice.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Fantastic Scene Tobie. Love the many Rhinos in one frame and the sky and water add so much. Agree about the colours though.