NEW TYPE Of RHINOCEROS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3604, 30 November 1905, Page 4

NEW TYPE Of RHINOCEROS.

Small Herd* «if Hi*? f.'ii' t’ioH, White In Color, Lately Uncovered In Darkest Africa,

There are albinos in nearly every species of created things—white nefrc.es, white elephants, white mice and white deer—but up to a recent date no one had ever seen a white .-hin-icoros. It is now reported that these are in existence in a recently

explored portion of Africa. They are almost extinct and probably not more than a dozen or so ere left. The Revue Scientitique prints an account of a recent meeting with a small herd of these animals in Natal. FortunateI3', they are strictly protected by law, and, fortunately also, the party thatmet the animals included the governor of the colony, otherwise the species might have been now more nearly extinct than ever before, for hunters are not very scrupulous in such matters. They (the rhinoceri) were moving at a slow 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 showed a sort of v«jgue 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 a 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 it is rather late to take‘up the work of preserving this interesting species.