World Rhino Day 2012

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 22, 2012156 views5 comments

Today is the 3rd celebration of WORLD RHINO DAY.
Between 2008 and 2011, a total of 1374 rhinos have been illegally poached in Southern Africa to fuel the trade of rhino horn on the black market.

Here are some resource where you can get more info and find out how to get involved in raising awareness and/or funds in aid of anti-poaching and educational campaigns.

www.worldrhinoday.org
www.savetherino.org
www.stoprhinopoaching.com

If you have rhino photos, post them today!

This "crash" (the collective noun for a group of rhino) allowed me some time with them on foot.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f8.0 @ 1/640 SS @ ISO-1800
Pretty much FF
Overcast so the sky was bleh

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on September 22, 2012 at 10:06 AM

I woke up a couple of days ago to a gory image of an Indian one-horned rhino lying dead in Kaziranga NP because poachers had cut off its horn. If I had my way, I'd round up the b..........s and shove the rhino horn up the poacher's (or poachers') @#$%&*. Pity this site does not allow anyone to translate all those dots and ' @#$%&*'.

About the image (sorry, I can't seem to appreciate the image in the mood I'm in), this is a picture of innocence and trust - trust that humans will just let them live out their lives. These creatures, and others like them, are the only connection we have with our past. Why are we hell bent to break this?

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 22, 2012 at 2:03 PM

Thanks for bringing up World Rhino Day here Morkel!

These poor souls need the attention! That is some nice big horn the one in the middle has, unfortunately she has to fear for her life because of it.

As for the image;I really appreciate the low angle here and quite like the formation and the detail and textures on the skins. Like you said the blend sky does not help much and the OOF FG grasses are a bit of an eye sore here IMO.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on September 22, 2012 at 2:24 PM

Ajit - I hear you and feel your frustration. We lose rhino in the Kruger and other reserves daily.

Vincent - thanks for stopping by! I'm pretty sure the big one was the dominant bull...and yes, OOF grasses tend to be an eyesore, especially if you are lying on your stomach as I was

I actually don't mind it here...as it's not covering the little one's face.

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on September 23, 2012 at 12:17 AM

AMAZING image, Morkel! Almost looks like a family picture of these rhinos. Love this photo! I hope to see and photograph rhinos one day, so I love seeing your photos of them!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on September 24, 2012 at 8:33 AM

Hi Morkel,

Thanks for posting this - and especially for the commentary. Poaching of any species drives me wild; the poaching of endangered species is absolutely reprehensible (and Ajit - I can understand your frustration/anger - so sorry to hear about that).

Real nice colour here (excepting the sky as noted) - and sharp where it should be. I like the alignment and apparently mutual focus on something. On the OOF grass in the lower right - I noticed it and I guess it would qualify as a "distraction", but for me it's not too big of a deal on this shot...

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments