In Darkness: Africa Images of Africa Totality in Zambia
by John Walker

Zambia


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The main reason for visiting the reserve on the Zambezi is an opportunity to spot a White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), which has been re-introduced into the area from South Africa. "But it's black, not white!", you immediately exclaim. "White" is, in fact, a misleading anglicisation of the Afrikaans wijde, meaning "wide", referring to the shape of its upper lip, which is adapted for grazing. The more common Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), which principally browses on leaves and twigs, has a pointed prehensile upper lip. The white rhinoceros is second only to the elephant as the largest land mammal, with large bulls weighing in excess of 2500 kg. Despite their mass, white rhinoceros are quite agile, able to run as quickly as 40 km/hour. Fortunately, they are not as aggressive as the black rhinoceros, and are more prone to run away from a provocation than charge.

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by John Walker
July, 2001
This document is in the public domain.