UNKNOWN

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3603, 28 November 1905, Page 4

UNKNOWN

Small Herds of the Specie*, White In

Color,' Lately Uncovered in Darkest Africa.

There are albinos in nearly every specks of created things—white--.,ne-groes, white elephants, white mice and white deer—hut up to a recent date no one had ever seen a white rhinoceros. It is now reported that tlie.se are in existence in a recently explored portion of Africa. They are almost extinct and probably not more than a dozen or so are left. The Revue Scientifique prints an account of a recent meeting with a small herd of these animals in Natal. Fortunately, they are strictly protected by law, and, fortunately also, the party that met She animals included the governor o" ‘t colony, otherwise the species migi,. .mve been now more nearly extinct ; ver before, for hunters are not crapulous in such matters. Tii.-; 11. lie rhinoceri) were moving at a i.oit pace toward a jungle and easily allowed the observers to approach. The party came within 50 yards of the huge quadrupeds, which were cropping the grass on the plain. The rhinoceri apparently were not at all disturbed. The horsemen dismounted and approached yet nearer, stopping about 20 yards from the herd. During a minute or two' the animals ■seemed to pay no attention whatever to the human beings who were watching them and kept on-browsing. Soon, they began to sniff the air, as if they had discovered something disquieting or disagreeable, yet, curiously enough, they seemed not to see the visitors, although the latter were not hidden. After a short time, during which they allowed a sort of vague preoccupation, they withdrew, first walking and finally trotting. Doubtless it is very seldom that these animals may be seen for so long at such short range. The herd was composed of four, adults (one a powerful male) and of one animal about three-quarters grown. The same day a herd of three other rhinoceri were seen, one male, one female and « young one. Thus eight individuals were seen, and probably these comprise all that is left of the species in the region, except, perhaps, one or two animals. It is estimated that there may be ten altogether. It is believed that there are also a few in the Übombo chain, but this is doubtful. The white rhinoceri are as strictly protected as possible. It is absolutely forbidden to hunt them on penalty of a fine of $250 to SSOO or imprisonment, and the governor, himself cannot give permission to kill them. This is very wise, for even if there remain as many as 20 white rhinoceri in the world there are certainly no more. And ii is rather laieto take" up the work of preserving this interesting spcclss.