hunting
RHINOS
BLACK RHINO
Shoulder height: 55-65 inches (140-165 cm)
Weight: 1,800-3,000 pounds (800-1,350 kg)
Max age: around 50 years
WHITE RHINO
Shoulder height: 170 to 186 cm (5.58 to 6.10 ft)
Body length: average 3.7 to 4 m
Weight: 2,300 kg (5,100 lb) average
Max age: around 50 years
NATURAL HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
As Rhinos are heavily threatened by poaching at the moment its biggest numbers can be found in reserves and private game ranches in Namibia and South Africa. Hunters willing to pay for the possibility to hunt old non-breeding or problem Rhinos finance these areas.
Around 1900, the Southern White Rhinoceros was the world's most endangered out of the five rhinoceros species. Less than 20 Rhinos remained in a single reserve in South Africa. By 2010, White Rhino numbers climbed to more than 20,000 making it the most
common Rhino species on the planet and a true conservation through hunting success story.
The Black Rhino is half the size of the White Rhino and exists in less numbers. Populations can be found in Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, northern Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, the Okavango region of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland.
BEHAVIOR
Rhinos are usually solitary except cow and calf.
Black Rhinos browse on twigs and prefer this cover while White Rhinos mainly graze grass and prefer the more open bush. In opposite of the White Rhino, Black Rhinos are dangerous and caution should be paid since they may charge with no reason. Black Rhino Bulls are aggressive and they are known to kill younger bulls to protect their territories.
THE HUNT
Only few and very selected licenses are issued to controlled trophy hunting each year and have nothing to do with the threats Rhinos are facing due to uncontrolled heavy poaching. The sustainable hunting of Rhinos in the last decade proved to be the most efficient way to save them from extinction in the wild in adequate numbers. Countries like South Africa and Namibia where controlled hunting is legal show adequate growing numbers of Rhinos up to date while they are close to extinction in areas where hunting them is completely illegal. Only non-breeding bulls and problem bulls that are recorded to have killed younger bulls and rhinos on private game ranches are hunted. The majority of funds generated from these hunts goes directly into conservation and anti poaching efforts and give these animals a value that pays off for their own conservation and protection. Rhino hunting can be challenging and is often underrated by hunters that have not yet experienced a Rhino hunt. Each hunt is selective and the search for the right animal can be difficult and often time consuming. Sense of smell is excellent, hearing is very good and eyesight is poor. They can run quite fast for a short distance and are surprisingly agile. Rhinos are usually hunted at short distances. We highly recommend calibers from 416. upwards and quality solid bullets.