Turning to head west along the northern perimeter of the zoo, you come to the area where the zoo's three Southern White Rhinoceros abide. The way the area is set up a herd of a dozen Impala graze around the edge of this space and have access to it when they choose, but have their own dedicated areas, too. And on the way I chanced upon yet another of the many peafowl that also wander all around the zoo.
Once the Rhinoceros were on the other side of the large enclosure a couple of curious Impala ventured into the shared space.
It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, I have a real affinity with Rhinoceros. Back in 1989 when I was traveling across Zimbabwe, I happened to hiking through the Matopas National Park with friends. We were heading toward the ancient Khami ruins, a scaled down version of the Great Zimbabwe ruins, when we came upon a Female Southern White Rhinoceros and her newborn calf. We were close to them, and we abruptly came to stop and lowered our voices and just watched. The female took notice of us for a moment and then with a snort went back to foraging and guided her offspring on along their way in no particular hurry. Once they had gotten a bit of distance on, we continued our trek. It is a moment I will carry with me into the atoms and void.
And then I noticed this old boy's freshly cut cheek...and also the decayed condition of his horns. But again, no one in sight to engage in conversation about this.
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