I was watching Dangerous Game last evening and they made the statment that white rhino are the only rhino originally native to Africa. They said that black rhino originated in Europe thousands of years ago and made their way to Africa, apparently when there was the connection between Europe and Northern Africa. Now, that's the first time that I had heard that one, but if true, then hunting white rhino should definitely be considered hunting the Big Five of Africa.

UEG,

Could very well be true. I see that you "stir the pot" , so you will not take my comment as a personal attack?

But then, by the same argument, humankind is not native to Europe at all. Humankind, so "they" [the clever people] say evolved in Africa, specifically in South Africa, and yet more specifically in Gauteng and still more specifically near Krugersdorp on Mr. Paul Nash's game farm. From there our long ago forefathers migrated across the world! So humans are not native to Europe. Nor Austrasia, or the Americas or even north Africa!

Im my book, black rhino is endemic in Africa. I could not really be bothered where they evolved or originated from. When man, or humankind, came to be there were black and white rhino in Africa! That is what counts for me! Actually what really counts for me is what was the situation when Jan van Riebeek landed in the Cape in 1652! [Yes, I'm a racist. ]

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Andrew: No, I don't take your comments as a personal attack. I was just quite surprised by the comment by the narrator about the origins of the white rhino and the black rhino. So, I just thought that with all of the hulabaloo that we've had on AR over the years about shooting the Big Five and that if you took rhino, in order to make it a "pure" Big Five, that you had to take a black, that the statement made on Dangerous Game was quite ironic.

Let me see if I get this right. White rhino are the only turely African specie where black people are the only truely indemic people and black rhino are actually European where white people are considered to be the indemic humans???

In my own humble opinion, both specie of rhino are purely African (especially since no remnent population or written record of rhino exists in Europe (no I do not count the fosil record!). And, as far as I'm concerned those white people who've been on the African continent for generations now ARE African! Likewise, those persons of "non-native race" who live on any continent are "native" (by my standards) by choice - even if their ancestors were brought there against their will.

While the tidbit about black rhino originating in Europe may be "interesting" it is totally irrevalent to our concerns. At least by my own personal standards, maybe your's are different.

Does the white rhino ushually count as one of the Big 5 or not?

Last time I checked, shooting a white rhino cost about $40,000 USD. Shooting a black rhino? Fuggadeboutit!

A "green" rhino hunt (temporarily putting it to sleep, photographing, making a mold of the horn) is much cheaper. Does that count as a Big 5? Also, I believe green rhinno hunts are only offered with the white rhinos.

Indy: The last time I checked, the price of a white rhino hunt was about double that, and more, depending on the horn length. I know that last year some were going for over $138K (i.e. 27" horn), due to the new South African regulations. One PH told me that many of the hunters were Vietnamese.

Yes, "green" Rhino hunt counts for the Big 5 in the SCI book. I believe it to be a more difficult hunt. A green hunt requires the hunter to become familiar and proficient with a dart gun (not a big deal) and then stalk up closer to the animal than is necessary for a rifle shot. The preferred POI is the rear end/hip. Hit the wrong area and the dart will fail to penetrate, bend or bounce off. Rhino don't see well but do have great senses of smell and hearing. Place the dart in the wrong spot and it may not put the animal down. The cost is substantially less than shooting a Rhino, which is cost prohibitive for many. The green hunt is not a give away as I know experienced hunters who have taken 3 days work to get a dart into one.

I did a green hunt with one of my HO in 2003. We had to stalk up onto the animal three times, being as close as 5 yards in the thorn bush without getting a shot, before I took an alternative shot into the neck at 20 yards, which is just about maximum range with a dart gun, on the fourth stalk. Seems like he ran a mile before going down. The DVM took blood samples and we implanted a microchip, took measurements and pics and administered the antidote. Then we ran like hell to get into the truck before he got to his feet.

If a green hunt interests you, send me a PM and I'll be happy to book you.

I makes no difference where they started, they came to Africa naturally, and I, for one, would love to have one of each! In fact I've been thinking of trying one of the darting hunts for a White Rhino, with the fiberglass replicas from the measurements, and copious pictures from every angle, for my trophy room. $138K is more than I could afford even if it included all the big five!

If the extememly successful White Rhino recovery program benefites from the money spent of the dart hunt helps, who am I to turn my nose up at it, as long as it is done on my own two feet!

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
I makes no difference where they started, they came to Africa naturally, and I, for one, would love to have one of each! In fact I've been thinking of trying one of the darting hunts for a White Rhino, with the fiberglass replicas from the measurements, and copious pictures from every angle, for my trophy room. $138K is more than I could afford even if it included all the big five!

If the extememly successful White Rhino recovery program benefites from the money spent of the dart hunt helps, who am I to turn my nose up at it, as long as it is done on my own two feet!

As usual Mac, you make a lot of sense.

perhaps eles originated in alaska since the mammoths and mastodons lived there

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
perhaps eles originated in alaska since the mammoths and mastodons lived there

OH MY GOD!! That may mean the dassies also come from there!

I had 7 stalks (2 days) on my darted White Rino hunt. I could have shot him many times but could not get close enough for the darting. As an interesting side to the darting, the vet sold me the dart I used and it is framed with my photo. The dart cost $35 and is a nice momento. It is not a simple walk in the park as some have said in the past here, but as usual they haven't done a green hunt so what the F*ck do they know!

I darted a white rhino on SA this past September. It was very exciting to say the least- shot at 8yds. Alot more to it than I ever expected.Great experience.