Are White Rhino Really One Of the BiG 5?

[Sarg]

I have always thought that the White Rhino was only included in the Big Five/Dangerous 5 so a lot of guys could finish their Big 5 slams & wasn't really that dangerous compared to the Black Rhino .

Thought I would see what others thoughts are on this ?

 

[WAB]

That’s my understanding as well.

 

[K-man]

I don't know about "deserve" but as it's the only huntable species of rhino out there is seems reasonable. Poor eyesight but a keen nose and not much to stop them if they want to go.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Black Rhino is more dangerous but I would definitely include white rhino in the big 5.

 

[1dirthawker]

Black Rhino is more dangerous but I would definitely include white rhino in the big 5.

+1

 

[Andrew Short]

Peter Capstick refers to them as “innately stupid” and states that “he isn’t much.” I’ve never hunted Rhino but i would trust his assessment....

Do they deserve to be a labeled as a dangerous game animal, of course. Part of the big 5... well that’s a good question.

 

[375Fox]

I definitely think they are rightfully one of the big 5. However, I think it’s really sad nearly all the populations (and all the hunting opportunities) in truly wild areas are gone. I have nothing against someone hunting a rhino, but it’s a bit sad to me that the only huntable populations now are highly managed behind a high fence to protect from poaching and possibly darted several times in their lifetime to remove the horn. It’s not the big 5 experience I’d be interested in.

 

[baxterb]

Having been around both, I'd say no. The white rhino tend to be much more docile and old mannish - the black are very suspicious, wary, and far more elusive.

 

[Muskox]

It is an arbertrary designation made by hunters. It means nothing. So yes why not?

 

[Firebird]

Good article by Craig Boddington in sports afield on this very subject. My vote is yes, put them on the list

 

[JES Adventures]

I was fortunate enough to hunt my White Rhino on the Songimvelo Game Reserve in South Africa back in ‘07. The reserve is 175,000 acres and my bull born there and in excess of 30 years old. Was he a “known” part of the herd, absolutely. Was he wild? As wild as God made him. I can say without reservation, he was as sporting to hunt as the 10+ buffalo I have taken in the four decades I have hunted the African Continent and he holds a special place of esteem in my trophy room.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

my personal opinion

if they were removed as one of the big 5, it may have a positive impact on the demand for illegal products from the horn which in turn may be a positive spin, but on the other hand it may lose its value derived from hunting if removed and hence not be protected as well, hence a negative spin.

as a true "dangerous" specie, yes it can be but less so then rest of the big 5
i would say a hippo is better suited to be one of the big 5

white rhino is truly a massive, majestic species!!! and can be dangerous in its own right!!

 

[jacques smith]

After having the priviledge of working around white rhinos there is no question they belong in the big 5. If it’s not broke, why fix it? This type of thinking leads to a sniped hippo isn’t as good as a on land at nite hippo or other similar nonsense[emoji41][emoji41]

 

[IvW]

I don't know about "deserve" but as it's the only huntable species of rhino out there is seems reasonable. Poor eyesight but a keen nose and not much to stop them if they want to go.

You ill informed Black Rhino are huntable...

 

[tigris115]

Personally, I think the reason white rhinos are seen as fairly chill is that much of people's white rhino experience is on game ranches in SA and Namibia, where the animals have at least some familiarity with man.

 

[IvW]

Personally, I think the reason white rhinos are seen as fairly chill is that much of people's white rhino experience is on game ranches in SA and Namibia, where the animals have at least some familiarity with man.

Not where they are hunted.....get on the wrong side of a white rhino with acalf or a horny bull you will find out....

Too many people think "game ranched" dangerous game are all of a sudden transformed to tame domestic stock.....

White Rhino have for ever been more docile than Black Rhino...just the way it is....

 

[tigris115]

You ill informed Black Rhino are huntable...

To be fair, comparing the 2 African rhinoceros species, the white rhinoceros is more obtainable than the black rhinoceros. I can see the latter changing as their numbers on properties increase and more licenses are allocated but it's still a pretty penny compared to the white rhinoceros (not counting darting in this case)

 

[IvW]

That was not the point.....

 

[curtism1234]

I would say no just for the fact I believe we are now in a different era and the cost prohibits or deters even the wealthy (unless you are scrooge mcduck) from hunting them. Yes, you can dart them but...why? Just a personal preference i guess.

Imo, its time to move hippo into the big 5. And for that matter, take crocs out of the dangerous 7. Sitting in a blind 50 yards away then having local staff risk their lives in chest deep water while the hunter sits there with a sandwich watching is hardly dangerous to the hunter.

 

[Hank2211]

You ill informed Black Rhino are huntable...

This is correct. Black rhino remain huntable and members of this forum may recall Corey Knowlton hunting one a few years ago using a permit auctioned by the Government of Namibia at DSC (under bomb threat!). Others have done so since with less publicity.

It seems to be true that originally the Big 5 included the black rhino, but I say "seems" because this was never a "legal' designation (same as my favourite pet peeve, the South African "spiral horn grand slam"). Who could make such a rule anyway? And who enforced or enforces such a rule? The Big 5 hunting Gods? I've met lots of people in my hunting days who seemed to think they were among the hunting Gods, but I never say any evidence to support those claims.

So you hunted and you killed a rhino. If it was a black, good for you. If it was a white, who could criticize you or tell you that you didn't meet the requirements of the Big 5?

Given the cost of hunting a black rhino these days, if we eliminated the white (which are expensive enough) from the definition, there wouldn't be many who could claim the Big 5.

Personally, I'd suggest that the only people who could argue against including a white are those who have shot a black or those who are perhaps a bit envious of others who've shot a rhino at all.