Friday, July 27, 2012

Rhino Chaser

This is Charles. Charles spends his day guarding some white rhinos against poachers. Rhino horns fetch ridiculous prices on the kooky medicine black market. When Zimbabwe's economy tanked the incidence of poaching skyrocketed. 

The rhinos are most active at night (when Charles is sleeping) so each morning Charles tracks them. At times the rhinos leave the reserve, walking straight through the fence. In the last week Charles has has to track and herd the rhino for up to 30 km outside the reserve. He does it all on foot.

Other than stout walking gear, Charles is kitted out with a semi-automatic weapon and has a mandate to use it against would-be poachers. His life must be a weird mix of serenity and stress.

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