From the Hunting Report

Potential New World Record Rhino Taken

(posted June 04, 2009)

A huge white rhino taken only days ago just may be the new number one in the SCI record book. The monster Southern white rhino green-scores 113 3/8 points, comfortably surpassing the current number one of 105 3/8 SCI. Although the trophy is certain to shrink somewhat during the three-month drying period, it is expected to final score enough to take the number one spot.

The rhino was taken in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province by Danish hunter Martin Christensen. He hunted a large reserve there with PH Andrew Austin of East Cape Hunters, booked through the Danish hunting travel agency Limpopo Travel. Measured and scored by an SCI master measurer in South Africa, the front horn of the rhino measures 36 3/8 inches, while the back horn measures 29 2/8 inches. Below is a photo of the brute with Christensen on the right and Limpopo Travel's Jannik Hansen on the left. Christensen used a double rifle Westley Richards 577 nitro on this hunt. - Barbara Crown, Editor.

Photo
http://www.huntingreport.com/w...te.cfm?articleid=447

Seloushunter

Must be some of that trick photography work in order, because that back horn definately doesn't look 29" long compared to the front horn at 36" long.

A mighty powerful double to bring down that white rhino! With the WR gun and the number one world record white rhino, anyone care to guess what that total in USD would be?

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:
Must be some of that trick photography work in order, because that back horn definately doesn't look 29" long compared to the front horn at 36" long.

You are right on that count.

There is certainly something wrong with the numbers, there is no way the rear horn is 29in.

Probably a typo error.

My guess to say that they meant the rear horn base circumference..

Nice gun!

Now he's tied with at least 12 other guys who darted the thing.

Spot-on Stevie. What an utterly meaningless "record".

The report reads like a magazine advertising for an outfitter / booking agent / travel agent, drumming up business.

OK, stupid question but is that a free range, wild rhino?

I never hear of rhino hunts, are they so expensive that they are rare?

j

This is going to sound a lot like jealousy on my part but sadly, I'll bet that rhino had a name.

quote:

Originally posted by stevie:
Now he's tied with at least 12 other guys who darted the thing.

Alas you found the words that alluded me as I read the article.

Brett

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:
This is going to sound a lot like jealousy on my part but sadly, I'll bet that rhino had a name.

This has nothing to do with jealousy at all, and I can assure you he had a pet name.

But, let us look at it from a realistic point of view.

If it wasn't for hunters like this man, there would not be any white rhinos.

They have to be paid for to be bred, and I suspect the only way to do that is for people to go shoot them.

I have been on a number of farms that had white rhinos, and no matter how big the enclosure is, or how wild they are claimed to be, in the back of my mind I know they are not.

Ultimately, this is not much different than hunting plains game on a farm in South Africa.

I suspect this gentleman is a "collector" and wanted to add a white rhino to his collection.

I have never hunter a bear in my life, but my daughter gave me one, and insisted we put him up with our trophies. So he has been added to my collection.

That's really precious of Hessa to be so generous.
Such a loving daughter, to give her father the trophy of a lifetime!

I heard the rhino's name was "Walter."
His breeding days had passed, and he was ready to go anytime.
He might have succumbed to a heart attack from the anesthesia of the next darting.
His butt was like a pin cushion.
His time had come.
The gentleman hunter has done a great service to conservation, and should not be poo-pooed for a canned hunt.
Agreed.
Here's to the good viking, the Great Dane, Bwana Christensen!

quote:

Now he's tied with at least 12 other guys who darted the thing.

Seloushunter

quote:

Originally posted by Josh A.:
OK, stupid question but is that a free range, wild rhino?

I never hear of rhino hunts, are they so expensive that they are rare?

j

Josh,

Not free range animal as such, but living wild and self sustaining in what appears to be a very large game reserve. However, that game reserve will have had a perimeter fence.

I'm not personally a great fan of white rhino hunting (and although have often hunted areas with black rhino in them, have never hunted a black rhino) but there's no doubt that it's hunters who have financed the breeding and research projects that have bought both the black and white rhino back from the brink of extinction....... therefore, in my opinion at least, we shouldn't criticise those hunters who opt to take a rhino.

I'm not sure about the Cape, but FWIW, some, if not most provinces now have legislation in place that ensures large animals can only be darted if there's good reason to do so.

As to cost, there's always a price range in everything but a ballpark figure would be something in the region of US$3000 - 3500 per inch of the length of the longest horn, plus a daily rate. Expensive, sure they are but they're not particularly rare because od that. There are plenty of rhino hunts available and plenty od clients wo can and do afford them...... Personally, I think a dart hunt for these species is a lot more challenging and a lot more fun than a traditional hunt. Frankly, white rhino are as dumb as a sack of spanners and any half skilled hunter could very often sneak up on one and crack 'em on the arse with a cricket bat without too much trouble.

I will say that when you're hunting an area with black rhino in it, but you're not hunting black rhino, they're a bloody nuisance. I was hunting an area a couple of weeks ago and we were after an ostrich........ those bloody birds had the area mapped out completely and knew exactly where the various black rhino lived and all they did, was to run from one BR to the other and use them for protection! As I say, a real bloody nuisance.

Hope that helps

The hunt for this rhino was putted out here in scandinavia a couple of months ago thru limpopo trave!i dont know the cost but it was sold as the new nr 1 (world record)i hope the money goes to breed more of this wery nice animals!

Rhino is OK, I want to see multiple pics of the rifle now that's a beauty! I just like the way it sounds, Westley Richards 577N.E. you don't get to here a WR 577 too often.

quote:

I will say that when you're hunting an area with black rhino in it, but you're not hunting black rhino, they're a bloody nuisance. I was hunting an area a couple of weeks ago and we were after an ostrich........ those bloody birds had the area mapped out completely and knew exactly where the various black rhino lived and all they did, was to run from one BR to the other and use them for protection! As I say, a real bloody nuisance.

Hope that helps

Very smart birds,aren't they?

Best-
Locksley,R

The bloody things must have a brain no bigger than a grape but most of it seems to be taken up with a black rhino location system!

Still, we got one in the end!

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Still, we got one in the end!

Steve,

What you do on your own time is fine with me, but getting ostriches in the end seems like a little much. I sure wouldn't be telling people on the internet.

Brett

Actually, it was a puzzle we never got to the bottom of. (If you'll forgive the pun!)

He couldn't get a texas heart shot and ended up taking a side on heart shot. The bird went down like a sack of shit but even after it was skinned, we couldn't find a bullet hole in it anywhere! .......... Christ alone knows what happened!

Shakari, thanks for the input and I understand the situation. Hunters really are the finance engine that keeps the animal populations healthy and viable.

j

Steve: You scared it to death!!!

I will say this, I would love to be stalking buffalo and run across a black rhino. What a thrill that would be. Stumbling over a rhino, lion or leopard while hunting something else just does it for me.

One of the reasons I hunt Africa is that X-Factor. You never know what you'll see next. It might want to stomp you, eat you, slither across the toe of your boot, or just melt away in the bush. One thing for sure it won't bore you.