This amazingly placid black rhino called Morani had been in captivity of varying quality all his life. At 26 years of age in December 2005, when we were lucky enough to see him, he was happily retired at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy outside Nanyuki in central Kenya. Morani was unused to the company of other rhinos and could not be released into the wild. He was, therefore, allotted his own patch within the park, the Morani complex, and two personal wardens to watch him 24/7. Being relatively used to humans and having an unusually calm temperament, Morani was able to be a wonderful rhino ambassador, giving the opportunity for visitors to learn more about rhinos and their plight while being able to touch and stroke him. It’s an amazing experience to be able to walk up close and stroke and pat the rhino while it contentedly continues it primary occupation of chomping away at the bushes. Granddaughter Lily was understandably a little wary. For the rest of us, it was a unique and unforgetable  occasion.

Sadly, Morani died in August 2008. A black rhino named Baraka, a wild rhino who lost sight in both eyes and could not be returned to the wild, has been transferred to the Morani complex. Baraka has replaced Morani as an Ambassador for the species, however he cannot replace Morani in terms of good nature and willingness to allow visitors a “hands-on” experience. The closest vistors can now get is a feeding platform from which they can feed Baraka three times a day.

With 79 black rhinos, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy is now the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. It has an active breeding programme and numbers are slowly increasing. However, these magnificent animals remain critically endangered, not least because of moronic and heartless humans who value their horns in the stupid and ignorant belief that they will enhance their health and potency. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy works very hard in its efforts at conservation of black rhinos and a number of other endangered species. They have a very informative website that is well worth a visit.

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