Rhinos aggressively defend their territory from any perceived invaders
By Peter Aitken
Online videos that have gone viral depict rhinos aggressively pursuing tourists in safari parks in India as the drivers try to outrun the animals.
The first video was taken on December 30, 2022, and shows a rhino charging at tourists in a forested area of India’s Manas National Park in Assam. Before cutting to the vehicle the rhino is pursuing, the video begins with tourists in another car filming the rhino in pursuit.
The intense video then records the next half-minute of what would ultimately be a half-mile pursuit. The rhino stays very close to the vehicle for the duration of the video, and the tourists can be heard shouting at the driver to pick up the pace.
Once the rhino had worn out, the tourists were able to quickly depart, leaving the animal behind.
The second rhino charge, posted on Twitter on Dec. 31, showed a rhino at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam for charging at tourists for just 45 seconds of a chase that lasted for at least a mile.
The tourists in the second video scream “bhaga” – or “speed up” – throughout the video as they remain in a wild panic. The rhino is farther behind the vehicle at the start but catches up halfway through as the driver appears to have difficulty maintaining top speed.
Press Trust of India reported that three jeeps tried to outrun the rhino, and the rhino actually brushed against the tires of the rear jeep.
Officials at the park reported no injuries among any of the guests despite the clear terror visible on the face of the woman in the video.
The two parks sit about 150 miles apart and across a river from each other among a number of other wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India.
Rhinos can aggressively defend their territories, with some guarding up to a square mile of land, according to PBS.
Videos of aggressive rhino behavior can occasionally pop up online, such as in February 2022 when a safari guide in South Africa had to shelter in a tree while a rhino tried to get at him. A research group had tranquilized and collared the rhino, but when it woke up it started going after the guide and crew.
