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Thread: Pete, captive Black Rhino

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Default Pete, captive Black Rhino

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    I thought this fit for World Rhino Day.
    My wife has worked with Pete for 17 years in the Portland, Oregon Zoo.
    The face of a captive Rhino in his "surroundings", a fake rock wall in his exhibit.
    He has fathered a child and currently has a new mate, that they hope to get an offspring from.
    He is an amazing animal, and my wife does her best to care for and make a captive life as
    pleasant as possible. Unfortunately, probably the only real "future" for these magnificent animals,
    if you call this a life.
    Notice the worn horn, just rubs it down on things as zoo animals do in their boredom.

    DSC_0073nx.jpg
    Dan Kearl

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    I hope you are wrong Dan, about rhinos only having a future in zoos, too sad to contemplate. Despite the rather melancholy look of the rhino, I really like the textures you've captured with the concrete wall against the rhino's skin. Also, the colours in this image are really interesting and the combination of colour and texture give a very rich feel. I think it would have been stronger if you could have photographed from slightly in front of the rhino rather than from slightly behind. Thank you for contributing an image for WRD and thank your wife trying to make a captive's life a little more bearable.

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    I agree with all that Hilary has said above. When an image makes you think, then I believe that the image is a good one. When reading the forward to the image my immediate reaction was one of sadness. I try in my small way to promote the sustainability of the wilderness in Southern Africaand to improve conditions for wild animals and for tourists to enjoy them like I have. This image is an inspiration for me to do more and that I am moving in the right direction. Thank you for sharing this image and may you wife continue with her wonderful work.

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    At least not India , hope you will read last last thread about success story of Rhino conservation HERE

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Wiseman View Post
    This image is an inspiration for me to do more and that I am moving in the right direction. Thank you for sharing this image and may you wife continue with her wonderful work.
    Plus one here
    TFS

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    lets hope that it is not the only future for this amazing species...Thanks for the support Dan

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    Robert Amoruso
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    Nice story Dan.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dumay de Boulle View Post
    lets hope that it is not the only future for this amazing species...Thanks for the support Dan
    +1

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Touching story Dan, and always makes me sad to see the expressions of animals in captivity. Good on your wife for caring for him.
    I sincerely hope that zoos aren't their last hope for survival...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Dan, interesting read, and thanks to your wife for her great work. Superb detail on the rhino.

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    I will never forget the first Rhino sighting in Africa in the wild. For me it was like being in another world. I also hope there is a future for them in the wild where they belong. Great to know your wife has a way to help. I don't like to go to the zoo, since seeing captive animals make me very sad.

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    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
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    Hi Dan, your image certainly evokes the sad plight of these magnificent beasts, and as mentioned will make people viewing the image think. Completely agree with Morkel's comments.

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Thanks for the comments, my wife read them and appreciates them.
    I am sorry for the gloom and doom and hope a lot of you are right.
    I go into the Rhino barn and feed Pete bananas occasionally (through very large 8" steel pipe bars), it is really cool to see them face to face,
    touch them and feed them. My wife loves working with them.
    As I mentioned Pete did sire a calf 5 years ago (Immara), who now lives in the Cincinnati Zoo, I think, so there is
    hope, as at least the breeding program for captive Rhino's is working. He has a new mate here now, so hopefully
    he will sire another. His first mate Miati, unfortunately passed away at a relatively young age (20 years) so
    captivity does not suit these large animals well.
    My wife has mixed feelings regarding whether these large Animals like Rhino's, etc. should even be in zoo's.
    She also works with two Hippos, who share the Rhino barn. They seem to do better in captivity.
    Last edited by dankearl; 09-22-2011 at 02:50 PM.
    Dan Kearl

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    A moving shot. Reminds me of a POW moving to the lone spot of light in their cell. I like the light and detail of the shot.

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