Mama and baby were inside when we got there, but they wandered outdoors within a minute of our group's arrival.
Have no fear, though, because that baby wanted us to see her! Well, she wasn't quite sure about that...
She would stick her head through the flaps, and then retreat.
In..?
... or out?
Finally she made up her mind. It's so interesting - here's this rhino who's only a few months old, and she's already got quite the personality. I thought it was a pretty brave move on her part to come on in without checking with mama first.
"C'mon mom, we have to go back inside! These people want to pet us!"
The animal management specialist told us we could touch them if the animals presented themselves to us. No problem. There were a total of 7 rhinos in the building, and most of them were up for contact with us.
Baby at eye-level, communing with a human.
She really enjoyed having her horn rubbed!
I mean, really, REALLY loved it!
This is one of the other rhinos in the building. Will you look at the size of that beast?
And check out those horns! That's one deadly weapon there.
I found myself fascinated by their body parts. Like rhino toes...
... and rhino ears.
But the best are rhino eyes...
7 comments:
What a precious commentary and adorable pictures, Heather. I wish I could pat a rhino! Looks as tho' you had so much fun that day at the Wilds. Thank you for sharing with those of us who couldn't be there. ~karen
Karen - Thank you. Every time I go to the Wilds is just incredibly awesome. I feel so lucky to have a place like this only a few hours away from home. I'm always glad to bring you all along with me.
What awesome photos Heather. How lucky to be able to see them that close and even touch them!!! The baby is so cute..?? Ha! Well, all little ones are cute. neat close ups of their eyes and other parts....
Oh! I'm in love! How interesting that even a baby rhino is cute. I mean, like Ginny said, I guess all little ones are cute, no matter the species. And I, too, love their eyes and love your photos of their eyes. A bit of soulfulness in all that...skin : )
Ginny - Yes, we were very blessed to be able to spend a few minutes with these creatures. Everyone's ears and eyes perked up when they learned we would get to see a baby rhino!
Meg (and Ginny) - Regarding the cute factor, I remember reading somewhere once that baby cuteness may be an evolutionary thing, and that it may be part of what makes mothers (humans, mammals, etc) want to stay attached/attentive to their children and helps strengthen the parent/child bond... or something like that.
Those are amazing pictures Heather. In some previous photos at the Wilds, it looked like there was snow on the ground.....Have these rhinos been able to adapt to our chillier climate?
Ruthie - Yes, there was snow on the ground while we were there this past weekend. I didn't hear anyone on the Wilds staff speak about the rhinos' adaptations to our colder climes, but they obviously don't mind it too much. I doubt that they actually let the rhinos out to pasture much when it's cold like this (unlike the camels, bison, and various species of deer, who stay outside in all seasons), but I would say their thick skin probably keeps them pretty insulated when it's cold.
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