“There we were, the three of us, wanting to congratulate, wanting to be good sports about this rhino whose smaller horn was longer than our big one, this huge, tear-eyed marvel of a rhino, this dead, head-severed dream rhino, and instead we … were ashamed and could do nothing about it.”
-excerpt from Green Hills of Africa by Ernest Hemingway, Vintage, 2004
This is a classic novel about old-style safaris – aka big game hunting. The shame mentioned above wasn’t about the destruction caused by their “sport”, but about the inability to congratulate someone who had killed a bigger rhino than they had!
White rhino, Zambia
Sadly, the rhino is now under extreme threat and those venturing out on safari these days will find it increasingly difficult to spot one of these incredible animals.
Copyright Debbie Smyth, 12 June 2015
Travel with Intent 
Magnificent animal.
LikeLike
Love the pic, and like all your other nature friends, I hope the hunting and poaching are stopped!
~
LikeLike
Poor things. I hope they can be safe.
LikeLike
I fear they may not be…
On Sat, Jun 27, 2015 at 2:29 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
>
LikeLike
SO sad to think, due to man’s stupidity these magnificnet animals could become extinct. Have a lovely weekend.
LikeLike
Tragic
On Sat, Jun 27, 2015 at 1:30 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
>
LikeLike
I do wish these hunts would stop, so many animals are considered threatened now. I love the rhino and photo. Great post. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!
LikeLike
I’m sure there is still some hunting for fun, but on a very limited scale. But poaching is a huge problem – some driven by the Chinese market, much driven by poverty
On Sat, Jun 27, 2015 at 11:31 AM, Travel with Intent wrote:
>
LikeLike
Attitudes are evolving; I hope it’s not too late.
LikeLike
Fortunately, lot sof attitudes have changed. But there are still enough poachers out there to threaten the endangered species. And with poverty still rife I don’t see a way of ending it.
LikeLike
I can’t bear the pursuit of rhino and elephant for pleasure or profit. We (Humans) are all guilty of allowing this to happen and I for one will never visit China until they stop using animal products in their so-called medicines. It just totally disgusts me.
LikeLike
I love Hemingway. Such a vivid writer.
Happy weekend!
LikeLike
I don’t think I could read this. Just the quote makes me tear up.
LikeLike
Isn’t it interesting how attitudes change over a relatively short period of time. I couldn’t imagine big game hunting myself. Check out my 56s and BBs at 21 and 22 on Freda’s linky. Happy reading!
LikeLike
Yes, and it really is quite a short period
LikeLike
Interesting snippet. Thanks for sharing.
Check out my 56 (With Book Beginnings).
LikeLike