Spotting a baby rhino on safari (Photo by Emily O'Dell)
On safari in Africa...
Although there is no scientific proof of its medical value, rhino horn is highly prized in traditional Asian medicine, where it is ground into a fine powder or manufactured into tablets as a treatment for a variety of illnesses such as nosebleeds, strokes, convulsions, and fevers.
– WWF, African Rhino Poaching Crisis
Today, when I was reading that September 22nd will be World Rhino Day (#SaveTheRhino/#iam4rhinos), I remembered an adorable tiny rhino that I was fortunate to spot in the wild, while leading a spirited safari through East Africa for Columbia. Due to the devastating effects of poaching, it’s quite rare to see a rhino on safari–and even more rare still to spot a baby rhino in the wild. While we knew we were very lucky to observe this young rhino walking with its mother through the bushes of the Masai Mara–our collective silence felt tinged with as much sadness as excitement. There was no way to know if these two majestic creatures would end up beating the odds, or if they would fall victim to the death blows of the poachers, and the greed of those in faraway places–who desire their horns…
