Are White Rhino Really One Of the BiG 5?

[IvW]

I would say no just for the fact I believe we are now in a different era and the cost prohibits or deters even the wealthy (unless you are scrooge mcduck) from hunting them. Yes, you can dart them but...why? Just a personal preference i guess.

Imo, its time to move hippo into the big 5. And for that matter, take crocs out of the dangerous 7. Sitting in a blind 50 yards away then having local staff risk their lives in chest deep water while the hunter sits there with a sandwich watching is hardly dangerous to the hunter.

Same goes for hippo in the water.....

 

[WilhelmM]

Not exactly sure. I think we're confusing aggression with overall danger. Yes, a black rhino is absolutely more aggressive than a white rhino, on average. But, you could make that same argument for leopards and lions. A lion may be more willing to charge a hunter, but a leopard is still not an animal you'd want to mess with especially when wounded.

 

[meigsbucks]

In 2018 I was hunting Jamy Traut’s Panorama camp. He has about 18 white rhino on his property. We had an eland stalk go bust. Along the way we saw a rhino about 150 yds away. As we were walking back to the truck, Jamy said let’s get a closer look. We closed the gap to maybe 80 yds. At that point the rh decided we were a bit to close and started trotting in our direction. We backed off and the rhino stopped about 30-40 yds.
IMO, although it doesn’t have the evil disposition of the black, it was a 5000# tough critter that deserves respect.

 

[Sarg]

Emm bit of a can of worms isn't it, I have only shot Hippo on DCA permit so on land & at night or early morning & it was terrifying/exciting, more so being charged by known Man killer on one occasion.

Crocs on different terms, once a monster 5m actually shot it off a Ranchers Cow, unfortunately not to be recovered, the Croc, the Cow made a full recovery, much to my surprise !

I only remember when I was young the only pictures & paintings you saw of the Big 5 together were of the Black Rhino in that group, then at some time (most likely when White Rhino could be hunted after a very long time) you only see White Rhino depicted in that group .

 

[npm352]

Originally it was just the big four, which included black rhino, but from what I gathered it wasn't to exclude the white, it was just what was hunted. I could be wrong. I would argue a rhino (black or white) has more of a "right" to be included in the big five than the leopard since they were originally left off the list in the first place.

 

[Red Leg]

This is the black rhino I hunted with Jamy Traut when he still managed Eden. We came across his tracks - even I could follow them - and he suggested we "hunt" him. About two hours later we closed and were able, in the thick brush, to close within 30 or 40 meters. Like I an idiot, I had the camera shutter sound on. At the "click" the beast spun around, I took one more picture, and we beat a hasty retreat. I was carrying a .375 with 300 gr TSX at the time when I took my "shot" with the Sony. I have "killed" my black rhino bull. I have never been around a more switched on animal.

"Shot" one

"Shot" two

Here is your faithful correspondent hanging out with a white rhino bull. I will be the first to admit environment makes a difference - but so does the wiring.

 

[Sarg]

Haha, what a awesome experience, could of got deadly & or expensive very fast to ! ?

It really pisses me when I or some one with me leaves the sound on the camera shutter !

 

[K-man]

You ill informed Black Rhino are huntable...

Oh I agree! What I should have said was huntable for less than a quarter million dollars...
Should I ever have that kind of pocket change I will certainly try to hunt one. I was actually able to take the temperature of one we had spotted that the Vet darted. Amazing experience to lay hands on a living animal of that size.
I agree, the "designations" hunters and organizations give to make up lists get a bit silly after a while.

 

[Chago]

5000lbs and a 4' spear on his face..... Ya sounds like a pussy cat. May as well add them to the tiny ten... I mean eleven.

 

[fourfive8]

Don't know what it is but those black rhinos are the most skittish things of their size I've ever run into. Bump into them in that thick scrub and usually before you can even get a good look or camera on them- they snort, whirl around and are gone in a cloud of dust. Of course you have to be extra careful around them not so much for your safety but for the integrity of your pocket book and their welfare in case they do some kind of blind charge. Maybe a combination of traits and circumstances at work. They could be naturally more shy than the white rhino- I dunno?. And in some of those areas where they are under heavy guard, the guards may have instructions to harass them when they see them to make it more difficult for poachers to approach them. Just a theory, but one that popped into my head after seeing them act like that every time I've been around them. I have gotten quite a few good pics of ole square lip but the only pics of the blacks have been rear ends and dust.

 

[fourfive8]

5000lbs and a 4' spear on his face..... Ya sounds like a pussy cat. May as well add them to the tiny ten... I mean eleven.

Yes, agreed! I almost posted something similar in response to the OP. They are big and don't have very good eyesight. They could "charge" trying to get away and run right over you. Or even if they are normally docile like the white rhinos tend to be, what if the one you stumble into in thick cover is injured or sick and wants to take it out on you? They are massive and with every one of them I've run into in thick cover I'm thinking, "how in the world could I stop this thing?", no matter the rifle I had in hand if it decided to get aggressive or stupid.

The temperament of this old bull was fairly easy to "read" but still caution is the word.
And these two younger bulls... I couldn't really tell what they were thinking! There was a large acacia close to my right, just out of the shot, in case.

 

[IdaRam]

They may not see too well, but they sure do have good ears. It seems all that is needed to “call one in” is to snap a twig I imagine some of the time he just wants to see who’s tromping around in his back yard. Other times it’s an opportunity to kick the crap out of something, just for fun.
My only pics of a black rhino. Fortunately, this time, he just wanted to see who snapped the twig.

 

[Chago]

Yes, agreed! I almost posted something similar in response to the OP. They are big and don't have very good eyesight. They could "charge" trying to get away and run right over you. Or even if they are normally docile like the white rhinos tend to be, what if the one you stumble into in thick cover is injured or sick and wants to take it out on you? They are massive and with every one of them I've run into in thick cover I'm thinking, "how in the world could I stop this thing?", no matter the rifle I had in hand if it decided to get aggressive or stupid.

The temperament of this old bull was fairly easy to "read" but still caution is the word.
And these two younger bulls... I couldn't really tell what they were thinking! There was a large acacia close to my right, just out of the shot, in case.

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I saw these on my first trip to Africa. I can tell you I was white knuckling my rifle lol. An animal the size of a minivan with a battering ram as a forehead doesn't exactly scream let's cuddle.

 

[jacques smith]

Seems the overwhelming majority believe the rhino(any rhino) is right where it belongs. The big five, as it should be. Cheers to all