Released 2009-10-03

Black Rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis

The solitary black rhinoceros is smaller than its white rhinoceros cousin. It is also more aggressive and unpredictable, worthy of considerable respect when encountered. Unfortunately, it is now a severely threatened species, having fallen prey to significant poaching for its horns, which are used for dagger handles in the Middle East and as an aphrodisiac in Asia. Tanzania takes this threat to its rhinoceroses quite seriously: park rangers have the authority to shoot poachers on sight, and rules regarding the operating hours of national parks home to the black rhino are strictly enforced. (According to our guide, if you are discovered after hours in the Ngorongoro Crater, for example, you are assumed to be a poacher.)

We were quite fortunate to see this black rhinoceros, for despite the government's best efforts to protect them, there are still very few of the animals in the park. The visual distortion of the image was caused by the heat waves between us and the rhino, resulting in a fantastic watercolor effect.

This is a limited edition photograph with a total of 500 photos printed across all sizes, as noted