Wilderness photographer of the week

It is always a pleasure when one of my pictures is chosen among the 25 best photos from the wilderness. It is special as there are so many good mammal photographers in Africa, but once in a while I have had one of my pictures chosen.

This week is special as it is a first for me. I actually have a mammal photo included among the Top 25 best photos from the wilderness. Before I have had three bird pictures, but this time it is a mammal and one that is critically endangered because of all the poaching.

It is a photo of a black rhinoceros, also called hook-lipped rhinoceros. I took this photo in 2009 when I did a four-day trip into Krüger National Park in South Africa. It was found during a glorious morning drive from Berg-en-Dal rest camp when we actually saw the big 5 in less than 45 minutes and during that time we saw both species of rhino, black and white.

The black rhino was spotted by my friend Fredrik who weren’t that keen on getting out of bed early, but I still thinks he remembers this morning with a smile on his face.

The black rhino has more of a temper than the docile white rhino and it also has a reputation for charging any perceived threat.

We clearly saw this temper as the black rhino charged the truck we were sitting in before it stopped approximately 30 meters from the truck just to investigate. It soon realized that we weren´t a threat and turned its attention back to eating.

It is a herbivorous browser meaning it stays among the thick bushes eating leaves, shoots and branches while the white rhino is a grazer preferring the open grassland. That means they done compete for habitat and seldom is found together.

And lastly I would like to thank Ranger Diaries for including my picture among the top photos of the wilderness. I surely remeber this morning myself as this is the only time I have met a black rhino in the wild.