One-Rhino Wrecking Crew

Thursday, 29 May 2008

Footage of the world's rarest rhinoceros, the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus), was recently captured, showing a mother and calf.

The rhino mother apparently did not approve of the camera sentinal, because it attacked it, much like the numerous black bear attacks on TBRC camera traps.

The attack on the camera trap was puzzling since it used no flashes and was specifically designed to use infrared illumination for purposes of not spooking wildlife.

The Javan rhino is the rarest of all rhinos and it is believed that no more than 60 individuals exist.

In light of this event, it is worth noting that a number of people actually believe that camera traps will not be successful in obtaining images of a sasquatch, because, it is believed, the species "knows" what cameras are and therefore consciously avoids them.

It has been the TBRC's experience, through the long-term project Operation Forest Vigil and extensive use of camera traps, that camera traps actually seem to be wildlife magnets in many cases. A variety of wildlife seems to be curious about camera traps, and some (such as black bears) seem to want to attack or eat them. An interesting and relevant experiment might involve the use of camera traps to obtain images of orangutans in the wild.

The logical reason for a lack of photographs of rare, elusive wildlife is because the wildlife is rare, elusive and leery, and is therefore exceedingly difficult to photograph. After two years, the TBRC still has no photographs of cougars, even though they are likely in the areas of TBRC camera traps.

Source: BBC News - Science/Nature 

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