In the wild, animals must establish their authority and dominance through physical action. Young animals, like this rhino, need to learn how to act in order to establish their place in the hierarchy.
Jacques Schutte sighted this interaction between rhino and buffalo in the Kruger National Park and sent the footage into Latest Sightings. This young rhino was experimenting to discover its place in the natural pecking order.
Like any experimentation, it took a little bit of time to get it right, and for this rhino it also took a little bit of help from some adults to help it establish itself properly in the animal kingdom.
Curious Little Rhino
The young rhinoceros, eager to get its feet wet, was the first one in the water hole, or at least, it was the first rhino. There were several buffalo that were already cooling off in the water, and they were taking up a bit of space.
There was room enough in the water for everyone to relax and cool off, but this was also the perfect opportunity for the young rhino to test just how much it could throw its weight around, and it was going to give it a go.
Although it had decided to try and intimidate the buffalo, the rhino didn’t seem particularly confident as it nosed towards them, and as soon as they lowered their own horns, it retreated hurriedly.
Once More With Backup
This rhino’s first attempt to secure the area of water for itself had met with failure. One small rhino couldn’t scare the buffalo, but the two larger adults that joined it might prove more persuasive.
This backup turns the tides in the rhino’s favor, and one of the buffalo gets out of the water in a hurry. No doubt it could see how the following encounter might turn sour, and it wanted to make sure it was a safe distance away.
Trying To Be Intimidating
With two adults nearby for support, the young rhino had another go at intimidating the remaining buffalo into leaving. While the buffalo might have fancied its chances against a single baby rhino, it was thinking twice against a whole rhino family.
The buffalo still stood its ground for a little longer, reluctant to let the rhino win the face-off, but it did eventually think better of it and decide to stand down.
Second is best for the young rhino which now finally saw some success as a result of its intimidation attempts. Although the buffalo did not flee, it did back down from the fight, and gave the rhinos the opportunity to bathe.
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Time To Cool Off
Being young and desperate to find a place in the world is a stressful and exhausting experience, but after this rhino had established itself as a newcomer, it decided it was time to properly enjoy itself in the water.
This bath had been hard won, and the little rhino was the first one in by far, as the adults remained standing behind it. This young rhino had found its place in the world, and it was a good one.