{"id":790,"date":"2016-11-25T11:50:53","date_gmt":"2016-11-25T11:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/natgeokids.com?p=790"},"modified":"2021-03-03T19:25:53","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T19:25:53","slug":"how-to-be-a-rhino-ranger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/ie\/discover\/animals\/general-animals\/how-to-be-a-rhino-ranger\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s it like to be a rhino ranger?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"What<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ever wondered what it’d be like to track rhinos through the wild? We experience a morning in the lives of the amazing people working to save the black rhino!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our adventure starts in\u00a0Liwonde National Park <\/strong>in Malawi<\/strong>, Southeastern Africa<\/strong>.\u00a0It\u2019s 5am<\/strong> and we\u2019re about to venture into the wilderness to track down a 1.4 tonne<\/strong>, double-horned black<\/strong>\u00a0rhino<\/strong> – and yes, we’re terrified!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our guides, Hungarian rhino specialist Kriszti\u00e1n Gy\u00f6ngyi<\/strong> and expert rhino tracker Christopher Kanyange<\/strong>, belong to an elite team in Liwonde National Park, whose job is to monitor and protect the rhinos, and rescue those that have been trapped in poachers\u2019 snares and traps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christopher reassures us that rhinos are shy and friendly animals, but adds, “We may encounter threats from other wild animals\u201d – uh oh!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A short electrified fence borders the 40km2<\/sup> Black Rhino Sanctuary<\/strong>, located deep within the national park. It”s not long until Kriszti\u00e1n picks up the signal of a bull<\/strong> (male rhino), named Ntangai<\/strong> on his detection equipment, which can tell when rhinos – fitted with radio transmitters<\/strong> – are in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kriszti\u00e1n takes an ash-filled sock<\/strong> out of his pocket and gives it a shake. The grey dust moves in the breeze. He\u2019s checking the wind direction, making sure the rhino can\u2019t sniff us out with his amazing sense of smell. If he senses our presence, he may (out of pure curiosity) come a bit closer to check us out \u2013 but if we scare him, he might run off at speeds of up to 40kmph<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhinos have very poor eyesight<\/strong> and can only run in a straight line<\/strong>. So, if he runs\u00a0towards<\/em>\u00a0us, all we need to do is move to the side, out of his way, and crouch behind a bush. Well, that\u2019s the theory, anyway\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/a>
Black rhinos have walked the earth for over 50 million years, but are now sadly critically endangered.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, Kriszti\u00e1n frantically starts making the \u2018danger\u2019 sign<\/strong> (see below) and gestures towards some bushes. A huge hooded snake<\/strong> is slithering off into the undergrowth! Christopher tells us: “That was a Mozambique spitting cobra<\/strong> – it\u2019s a very<\/em> dangerous animal!\u201d Eek!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These scary snakes can rear up and spit venom 3m<\/strong> towards their target, causing blindness. Their bite<\/strong> can cause serious damage, too – so we’re relieved the 2m<\/strong> monster wriggles away when Kriszti\u00e1n tells us, “That\u2019s one of the largest ones I\u2019ve ever seen!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve been tracking the bull in sweltering heat for over 7km<\/strong> now, and finally he seems to have slowed down. \u201cThe signal is intense now,\u201d Kriszti\u00e1n whispers. \u201cThe rhino is within 80 metres<\/strong>!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/a>
Rhino rangers encounter some pretty scary wildlife during their patrols, such as the Mozambique spitting cobra (above)!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we make out a huge grey rump and a hairy twitching ear as Ntangai browses on some shrubs. We get a delightful view of his big bum for a few seconds, before he disappears into the thick bush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding a healthy rhino, uninjured and without disturbing him, is a successful trip for the rangers, but unfortuntately not all have such a happy ending as this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A staggering 96%<\/strong> of black rhinos were lost to poaching between 1970<\/strong> and 1995<\/strong>, and entire populations have been wiped out in some African countries because their horns<\/strong> are used to make traditional \u2018medicine\u2019<\/strong> in Southeast Asia<\/strong> and the handles for a type of dagger<\/strong> (called a\u00a0jambiya<\/strong>) in Yemen<\/strong> in the Middle East.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/a>
Expert rhino tracker Christopher on patrol!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Today, poaching<\/strong> is still the biggest threat to rhinos, but their numbers are slowly rising thanks to dedicated conservation<\/strong> efforts. Rangers at The Black Rhino Conservation Programme at Liwonde Park in Malawi are helping to restore this iconic species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christopher says of the day’s work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The moment we find the rhinos, and they are in good condition, we feel happy. We feel it in our heart. Because this is our<\/em> animal. And a very important animal for the whole world.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out more about the rhino rescue effort at\u00a0malawianrhinos.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Communicate like a rhino ranger!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To go on rhino patrol you’ll first need to learn the hand signals. Rhinos have excellent hearing, so knowing how to communicate silently is key to tracking one down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure>
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SILENCE!
Shhhh, danger is near!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DANGEROUS ANIMAL NEARBY!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oughta come in handy when a Mozambique spitting cobra’s on the prowl!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure>
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COME TO ME!
Gather round, guys!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure>
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SPOOR FOUND!
“Spoor” is another word for footprints!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure>
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I SEE A RHINO!
Point at your eyes, then at the location of the animal!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Check out this cool footage of a curious rhino captured on camera!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n