The Story:
This image was from a very special encounter I had several years ago in Zimbabwe. It remains to this day the most special, magical sighting I have ever had of Rhino.
It was late afternoon (hence that gorgeous golden glow) and we were on foot when we came across a small crush (the rather apt collective noun) of 7 white rhino. Some were grazing and some like this gorgeous girl were resting in the shade.
She stayed resting completely aware of, but at ease with our presence. She was heavily pregnant & that too I felt was poignant. She has a soft and gentle quality that belies her size and strength but is a reminder that they are completely vulnerable to the bullets from poachers guns that threaten their continued existence on the plains of Africa.
Rhinos are suffering hugely in the wild, but sometimes that can be a depressing thought so every now & then it’s important to sit back & celebrate these amazing majestic animals & remember why we need to protect them.
When I look at this image it reminds me of all the amazing things about rhinos, I ask you to take a little moment to look into the eyes of this beautiful girl, and remember why the world needs to love and protect these beautiful beings in the wild.
WHY RHINOS NEED YOUR HELP:
I sometimes find it hard to believe that when I lived in South Africa, rhino poaching was barely a problem. In the 12 years since I left South Africa the plight of these almost prehistoric animals has become dire, they are moving perilously close to extinction, predominantly being poached for the international trade in their horns. Friends and colleagues I worked alongside have found themselves on the frontlines of a ruthless and bloody battle in their selfless and courageous fight to protect these beautiful animals. Once solely linked to traditional medicine consumption the trade in rhino horn has developed, echoing the elephant ivory crisis, rhino horn has to some now become a valuable commodity, owned and traded merely for status and wealth, particularly in the Far-East.
Once prolific throughout Africa, they have periodically over the past century faced intensive poaching that has now reduced their numbers to mere thousands, and indeed led to some sub-species becoming extinct. The current crisis has now spanned over a decade and the hardest hit country has been South Africa, previously a significant stronghold and a safe sanctuary, the rhinos here have been relentlessly targeted. Whilst official figures show some decline in poaching statistics in the last few years, from it’s peak around 5 years ago (when a rhino lost it’s life to poaching every 7 hours!!), many experts in the field sadly believe this is due to the significant loss of life and that it has merely become harder for the poachers because their are so few rhino left.
To imagine that these beautiful animals are verging on becoming confined to history, to pictures in books and to purely memories, all within the short space of my lifetime, is something that shocks me to my core and literally breaks my heart.
However there are incredible men and women who are out there at this moment doing everything they can, risking their lives to ensure that that is not the fate to become this species.
It has been hard to pick a charity to support with rhino in mind as there are many to choose from. But I ultimately have settled on the African Parks network once again. They support and protect rhino’s alongside all wildlife through their incredibly effective park protection. They have also managed several successful reintroductions of Black rhino to regions they had become locally extinct, these actions to return rhinos to previous ranges, hopefully gives more scope for protection of the species as a whole where they stand a chance of enduring in these smaller pockets of safety, a strategy that has been utilised successfully in the past in South Africa.
If you would like to support African Parks directly or learn more about the incredible work they do in some of the most vulnerable parts of Africa, you can visit their website by clicking here: https://www.africanparks.org
EXTRA INFORMATION:
Instead of offering bulk mass-produced prints, I want you to know that you are buying something special and unique. I feel that people should purchase fine art photography prints because the artwork speaks to them and they feel an emotional connection to the print and the photographer. All my prints are strictly available as low number limited edition runs. As a limited edition print sells its price will appreciate accordingly in the online store, as fewer remain available to purchase.
This picture is printed on archival grade fine art Hahnemühle Photorag paper. If you have not seen this before it a softly textured paper that gives a wonderful quality to an image, really empathising the idea of the texture you would imagine if the rhino was actually standing in front of you. It is a brilliant paper for bringing out the subtle tones and textures.
I recommend that when you receive your print that you have it properly mounted and framed by an experienced professional frame shop to ensure the maximum care and longevity of your artwork.
Should you wish to purchase a limited edition print in a different size to that listed, please contact me and I will be happy to discuss your requirements and provide a quote for the cost to produce the print in your desired size. I am also happy to provide quotes for framing or printing onto Chromaluxe if you would like to have your print sent to you ready for you to hang on your wall.
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