Save Me from the Lion's Mouth by James Clarke

Author:James Clarke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: In many parts of Africa a ‘front line’ has developed between humans and wild animals. People are daily and stressfully aware of their vulnerability, whether from predators that eat their stock, or from marauders that trash their crops: elephant, hippos, bushpigs, baboons, cane rates, dense sun-blocking swarms of locusts and quelea finches that can wipe out an entire season’s crop and leave a community starving. And a startling number of people in Africa are killed by wildlife each year., This reality is rarely conveyed to investors in wildlife conservation or to visitors to wildlife sanctuaries. But the battle lines are drawn between communities directly impacted by the remnant wildlife of an increasingly congested Africa, and the paymasters of a first-world population of voyeurs. Can all the players co-exist? This controversial exposé of the conflict between humans and wildlife lifts the lid on the battle for turf: the future of conservation will depend on the relationship established between wildlife authorities and those bearing the brunt along the front line., In many parts of Africa a ‘front line’ has developed between humans and wild animals. People are daily and stressfully aware of their vulnerability, whether from predators that eat their stock, or from marauders that trash their crops: elephant, hippos, bushpigs, baboons, cane rates, dense sun-blocking swarms of locusts and quelea finches that can wipe out an entire season’s crop and leave a community starving. And a startling number of people in Africa are killed by wildlife each year., This reality is rarely conveyed to investors in wildlife conservation or to visitors to wildlife sanctuaries. But the battle lines are drawn between communities directly impacted by the remnant wildlife of an increasingly congested Africa, and the paymasters of a first-world population of voyeurs. Can all the players co-exist? This controversial exposé of the conflict between humans and wildlife lifts the lid on the battle
ISBN: 9781920572976
Publisher: Random House Struik
Published: 2012-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

Although the black rhino has killed fairly regularly over the years, its reputation as one of the most dangerous animals in the bush has been greatly exaggerated. Hunters have long argued over its position in ‘the big five’ – the five most dangerous and sought-after animals to hunt. Some argue, unconvincingly, that they would rather run into a lion or leopard, maybe even a buffalo or elephant – since at least these animals prefer flight to fight. When the black rhino suspects somebody is nearby, it tends to spin around and advance, hesitantly, towards the source of its irritation, stopping and listening through its swivelling funnel-like ears and sniffing the air with distended nostrils. If the person stays still it will saunter off. On the other hand it might decide to charge. Rhinos have been known to charge trucks and, on one occasion in Kenya, a locomotive, when it was killed on impact.

In Man is the Prey I wrote of a theory ‘held dear by a surprising number of big-game hunters that one can side-step a charging black rhinoceros and that it will then go trundling past and eventually stop and begin browsing again’3. I have since found it is no theory. Werner von Albensleven, who hunted in Mozambique for many years, says, ‘The black rhino can be sidestepped with comparative ease.’4 Jim Feely, a ranger with wide experience but who is particularly knowledgeable regarding the two African rhinos, used to stand his ground when a black rhino charged him and, as it reached him, whack it across the nose with his rifle butt and so turn it5. I imagine that takes very precise timing and a very cool nerve.

C.A.W. Guggisberg, an East African wildlife writer, correctly states that a number of people who claim to have been charged by black rhinos have merely been the subject of ‘an exploratory advance’. If the black rhino senses something suspicious, it will throw up his head and trot toward the source of its annoyance; it might trot around in a half-circle and test the wind. It will then stand for a while before retreating, turning from time to time to face the direction where it suspects somebody is standing. It is wise to assume that it is going to attack and look for a tree to climb. Occasionally a shout or violent action will cause the rhino to rush off in a state of high alarm. Then again, it might make him charge. No other animal is so magnificently unpredictable6.

Most big-game hunters agree that the black rhinoceros is easily killed with a medium or heavy rifle. Often it can be effectively turned off its course during a charge with a shot over its head or into the ground ahead of it. It is said to be easily felled when it presents a head-on aspect. J.A. Hunter would allow them to charge to within 15 metres (16 yards) of his clients’ cameras before felling them with a single shot.

The black rhino also has an acute sense of smell.

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