rhino – Page 10 – Christian Sperka Photography

2014-01-17

And the answer is …

The picture shows a juvenile Red-billed Oxpecker looking for ticks inside of a White Rhino’s nose. The Oxpecker’s bill is black because he is not an adult yet.

Lisa W. (commented on my blog) got closest to the correct answer – Well done!

More about …

Oxpeckers are endemic to the savanna of Sub-Saharan Africa. Their name arises from their habit of perching on large mammals, eating ticks and other parasites. Oxpeckers feed exclusively on the backs of large mammals. The smallest regularly used species is the Impala. Some potential Oxpecker hosts are intolerant of their presence. Elephants and Waterbuck will actively dislodge the Oxpeckers when they land.

This blog message contains the answer to https://sperka.info/2014/01/16/what-is-that/

2014-01-05

Hunter or hunted?

We had some great sightings this morning – First a herd of Buffalo enjoying themselves at a Waterhole, then four Lions trying to hunt some Buffalo and finally three White Rhino enjoying the sun after a mud bath. The guests on my vehicle were especially impressed with the Lion-Buffalo interaction. It was not always clear who was the hunter, and who the hunted? The Lions gave up at the end and the Buffalo moved on.

At one time we could see all three “Big Five” species from one spot : looking to the left > the Lions / looking straight on > the Buffalo / looking to the right > the Rhinos. The three landscape images below were taken without moving the vehicle!

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Rhinos in the Snow?

When one looks at this images one could think that these two White Rhinos are walking in the snow!

So I thought this makes for a nice Winter holiday images for all my friends on the northern hemisphere.

But, in reality the white stuff on the ground is ash from a bush fire. The Rhino mum and her calf enjoy rubbing their square lips in the ash – this makes them truly White Rhinos 🙂

Enjoy your Christmas/New Year holidays!

2013-12-26

Christmas Sightings!

The Thanda guests enjoyed great sightings over the Christmas holidays.

Two young Elephant bulls giving a sparring demonstration …

… a White Rhino mum and her son hosting an Oxpecker party …

… a young Kudu bull in front of a beautiful Thanda vista …

… and Thanda’s dominant male Lion smacking his lips after a big meal!

Happy Holidays!

Pictures by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve.

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Keeping up with mum

In this picture the little White Rhino is running along mum towards a waterhole. Mum was a bit agitated, but it had nothing to do with the game drive vehicle in the area. A young bull was giving her some unwanted attention and she got out-of-the-way quickly (with her tail rolled up).

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ISIBINDI – Rhino Parade

The Thanda wildlife team joined Wildlands Conservation Trust representatives at the unveiling of the latest “Rhino Parade Art” at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport.

In front of the camera :-)

Photographers seldom end up on pictures. Well, there are not very many pictures with me in them, especially not during interesting wildlife operations.

But at this Rhino darting operation one of the subjects of my pictures (it was actually Kingsley Holgate, a well known South African explorer, humanitarian and author – who was present during the operation) took the camera away from me and shot this image. Thanks!

And then a member of the wildlife team took this image with all the guides, trackers, game guards and the Rhino boy involved in this procedure.

So, two picture with me in it in one day – must be a record 🙂

2013-09-22

World Rhino Day!

Today is Wold Rhino Day – This is a chance to raise awareness and support for these prehistoric creatures. Over 600 rhinos have been killed this year in South Africa alone, that is more than 2 each day!

The Thanda Foundation is a founding member of Project Rhino Kwazulu Natal, an organization dedicated to the fight for Rhino survival.

Please show your support by sharing this message and/or by actively supporting Project Rhino (http://www.projectrhinokzn.org). Thank you!

Picture by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve

2013-09-17

Fight for Rhinos

Africa has lost more than 100,000 Rhinos in the past 45 years – Over 2,000 Rhinos have been killed by poachers in South Africa since 2008 – Over 600 this year alone.

The Thanda Foundation is a founding member of Project Rhino Kwazulu Natal, an organization dedicated to the fight for Rhino survival.

Show your support during this official Rhino Week by sharing this message and/or by actively supporting Project Rhino (http://www.projectrhinokzn.org). Thank you!

Today’s Rhino Image: A crash of Square-lipped Rhinoceros (White Rhino) is crossing a road on Thanda.

2013-09-11

Working together …

To help and protect Rhinos and other species on the reserve, Thanda Private Game Reserve is working together with WILDCON Safaris and Events – www.wildconevents.co.za.

WILDCON provides the funding for conservation events. In this darting operation a young male Square-lidded Rhinoceros is being marked for identification, DNA sample are being collected and a complete health check is performed.

WILDCON’s clients actively participate in such operations and become an active part of wildlife conservation. Their involvement makes these operations possible.

If you are interested to participate in a Thanda Conservation Event contact wildlife@thanda.com.