I haven't seen a good representation of a black rhino in many years - until this cow came along. She snorted, she bluff charged, she was wary, she ran into cover. She did everything a black rhino should do. In short, she was ill tempered and didn't like us, and I loved it!
Nothing stays the same forever. I get it. I don't always like it, but I understand that countries, peoples, cultures, landscapes change - and I accept that axiom of change. Returning to Kenya and Tanzania always makes me reflect in a "back when I was a kid" kind of way. Back when I was a kid, we could drive off road anytime in a park. Back when I was a kid, there were no shambas (farms) there. Back when I was a kid, people rode bicycles, not piki pikis and boda bodas. Back when I was a kid, rhinos and elephants were everywhere.
This black rhino cow in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy reminds me that though countries and landscapes change, the "old" heart of Africa beats strong. As long as there are protected areas for East Africa's wildlife the lions' grunts at night will still be heard; the elephant herds moving to and from water will still be seen; the cape buffalo wallowing in the muck will still be smelled.