Namibia: Two Rhinos Escape From Etosha


The Namibian (Windhoek)

June 27, 2006
Posted to the web June 27, 2006

Oswald Shivute
Oshakati

TWO black rhinos that escaped from the Etosha National Park recently are being tracked by helicopter in an effort to chase the rare animals back to the park.

Councillor Lazarus Kornelius yesterday told The Namibian that the two rhinos escaped from Etosha after elephants recently destroyed parts of the park fence.

According to him, there are now many gaps in the fence and many wild animals are escaping from the park.

"The two rhinos also escaped from the park through those openings in the fence and came over to the areas where communities are living, "said Councillor Kornelius.

He told The Namibian that they had reported the incident to local officials from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism's Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM).

He said rhinos were dangerous animals and the escaped pair had sparked fear among communities at Okaurukwa and Otjorute villages in Ruacana constituency.

Kornelius called upon villagers to show caution when moving in the area and to co-operate with Ministry officials sent to investigate the incident.

The Ministry's Chief Warden for the North Central area, Evaristo Nghilai, confirmed that the Ministry was aware of the situation and had dispatched a helicopter to the area yesterday.

Members of the Ministry's Game Capture Unit were also on the scene, while other staff were investigating breaks in the Etosha boundary fence.

"When found, the two rhinos will be chased away back to Etosha Park again," he said.


"The rhinos can be dangerous animals if not treated well and can create havoc among the villagers and we are calling upon residents in that area to be careful with the two rhinos and not to molest them, till we find the way how to get them out there," said Nghilai.

Nghilai and Kornelius, told The Namibian that so far the rhinos had not harmed any residents.

Communities in the west and south west of Omusati Region have previously complained about the state of the Etosha fence, claiming it was not properly maintained, resulting in dangerous wild animals such as elephants, lions and rhinos escaping from the park.

That fence is a complete joke. Nothing stays in the park that doesn't want to stay.

I do hope they catch the rhinos that escaped, though. Or somehow corral them back inside. They truly evoke the Africa of old. We were fortunate enough to see one when we drove through Etosha a couple of years ago.

BTW, I loved this quote from the story:

"The rhinos can be dangerous animals if not treated well . . . ."

So, what's an African householder to do? Invite them in to his shamba for dinner and a drink and trust that they will behave like royalty?

Of course. All of the stories from Africa that I read that are written by their news media invoke human characteristics and feelings in regards to the animals. So, invite them in. . .offer them a drink of their choosing. . .watch a movie or t.v. together, offer them the choicest guest accomodations and don't piss them off! And of course they are royalty, they're black, not white, rhinos!