 |
|
This incredible woman is Anna Merz. She is to Black Rhino what Jane Goddall is to Chimps and Diane Fosey was to Mountain Gorillas. In 1983 she retired to Kenya and became concerned about the plight of black rhinos. In the early 1900s there were probably several hundred thousand black rhino. In 1980 when the black rhino was first listed on the endangered species list there were an estimated 14,000 . By the early 1990s the number dipped to below an alarming 2500. With the help of Anna the population is now estimated at around 3500 on the whole continent. But poaching is still rampant especially now with the economic downturn world wide. "The rhinos were in Kenya, I was in Kenya, and the rhinos were in terrible trouble," recalls Merz, who resolved to establish and fund a sanctuary specifically for black rhinos. She then set out to find suitable habitat. After a lengthy, often frustrating search for an understanding and cooperative landowning partner, Merz met David and Delia Craig, who invited her in 1982 to establish a sanctuary at their ranch, Lewa Downs. At last, the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary was born. This has now grown to the LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY which encompasses a total 62,000 acres. There are about 60 black rhino on the property (11% of the national Kenyan population). This population has provided individuals for translocation to other protected areas, where new populations are being established. Anna retired to South Africa for health reasons but still visits Lewa twice a year, and we were SO FORTUNATE that she was there when we were. She is such an incredible and fascinating person! She is actually the one who spotted the wild dogs and radioed to head quarters to tell us. We had been at a party with her the night before, and I told her we really, really wanted to see them, so the next morning when she saw them she immediately called for us! She has an incredible book called "RHINO AT THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION" which is a very good read that I highly recommend. |
 |
| This adorable guy is Charley. He is a 3 month old black rhino calf. His mother Mawingo is partially blind, and so when she has calves LEWA has to hand raise them as she is unable to protect them. We were able to spend a little time with him. I was smitten to say the least!. Plus it was wonderful to get to fully explore with my eyes and fingers, all the textures and folds of his fascinating skin! Note: I'm wearing some of my FOXY HUNTRESS clothes! |
 |
| Charley has an older brother and sister named Lola and Elvis who were also bottle raised. Lola is 2 1/2 and Elvis is 4 1/2 years old. They have a ranger with them at all times. We spent the morning photographing them, and at one point we were trying to position the vehicle so I could get a photo of James with them in the background. The ranger then gestured for James to get out of the vehicle and come over and pet Lola. When I tried to get out he held up his hand. Damn Maasai culture! He was too protective to let a "woman" get out with the rhinos! You can imagine I was CRAZY JEALOUS!!! And James got to hear me gripe about it for a long time (still griping about it!!) |
|
|||
| I had plenty of opportunity to sketch Lola and Elvis, including details such as eyes, feet etc. Some of the unusual angles such as from the back with his head raised eating off a tall bush were fun and a challenge as they were areas I don't usually have to understand when I'm doing a painting. |
 |
| LEWA requested James to try to photograph some new black rhino calves that had been reported by rangers. Here James is at headquarters with our driver Samuel and one of the staff talking about where some rhino calves had been spotted. |
 |
| LEWA is segmented into areas that are patrolled daily by rangers. They report back every day on their sightings of rhinos, especially new calves. If a rhino isn't spotted in its territory in two days, then a team goes out to track it to make sure it is safe. Here James with Engore, a rhino tracker, standing on a ridge trying to locate a rhino mom and baby. |
 |
| The next day we got a radio call from Engore. He had spotted a black rhino mom and calf asleep under a tree. We rushed over to the area and then got out and hiked through the deep oat grass to a small ridge. Here Engore is showing James where the rhinos are. Unfortunately black rhinos can be very aggressive and unpredictable, and so it was decided that we could not safely get any closer for James to get a clear shot. Photos of a rhino baby would have to wait until another day. |
 |
| For several days we searched for black rhino moms and calves. Here we had driven deep into an acacia woodland after a ranger reported one that he had spotted with binoculars from a nearby hill. With his instruction we wove around the trees searching for the rhino. We did find her finally, but alas, the grass was too tall, and all we saw was the top of the calf as they ran away from us deeper into the woods where we could not follow. |
 |
| FINALLY!!! We happened to spot a rhino on one of our drives and - hoorah - she had a calf! She ran up the hill, but then, they turned and were silhouetted against the dark sky! What a great shot James got!! LEWA actually has this featured on their webpage at www.lewa.org on the right side under the heading "More Black Rhinos On Lewa". Black Rhino moms are so protective of their calves it is just really, really hard to get a nice clear shot. This photo of the mom and calf against a gathering storm sort of symbolized the struggle to save the species. |
|
|||
| On another day we spotted this big bull Black Rhino out on the plains. He was in the open with no trees, so we slowly approached him in the vehicle. We got so many great shots of him from all angles. There were a ton of European barn swallows and lesser striped swallows flying around him as he scared up insects in the grass. Here is a sketch I did that is definitely going to be the basis for one of my major paintings for our LEWA exhibits! |
 |
| Many people ask me what the difference is between black and white rhinos. The names are misleading; it has nothing to do with the color of the animals. White comes from a Dutch word "wyte" meaning "wide". The white rhino is a grazer - it eats grass. It has a big wide flat upper lip that it used to "mow" the grass. So for what ever reason the Black was just then named "black" rhino. Both animals are a grey color. The Black is a browers - it eats bushes and shrubs. It has a pointed thin upper lip that it uses to eat leaves. This photo is of White Rhino Bull. |
|
|||
| Poaching is still a major threat to rhinos. Their horns are used in traditional Asian medicine and as ceremonial dagger handles for Yemi men. With the economic downturn poaching is on the rise again. Somalians come across the border and have a complex network to move the horn. Rhino horn is much easier to conceal than elephant ivory, one of the reasons it is so difficult to catch poachers. Lewa works tirelessly in the whole of Northern Kenya with armed patrols, air surveillance, anti poaching units and dog trackers |
 |
| I want to be a part of the solution and make sure we don't see an "end" to Black Rhinos in Africa! Hopefully my raising awareness about Lewa's work through my webpage and ultimately exhibits, the funds we raise will help continue their extraordinary work! |
|
fine Wildlife art and photography  |
