Soldiers shoot endangered Rhino

[Lord Blackadder]

Link. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6164122.stm)

British troops training in northern Kenya have shot dead a rare white rhinoceros after it charged at them.The four soldiers were confronted by the adult male after they got lost at night on an exercise in the bush. White rhinos are critically endangered, wildlife experts say, with less than 200 in Kenya.

A shame. Although, I would hate to be faced with a charging rhino armed only with an L85 assault rifle...

[Felldownthewell]

I'd hate to be the guy who says "Wait, the rhino trying to kill us is rare and endangered! Don't shoot!" to a group of soldiers with L85s... :D

[Peterkro]

Brit Army(or any other army I've heard of) lost and shooting at anything that moves you say? How unusual,and exactly what are they training for in northern Kenya they're not thinking of putting peacekeepers into Rwanda are they.:rolleyes:

[John Jacob]

If the rhino was charging the soldiers and they had no choice but to kill it or get killed, then you can't fault them for shooting it. But I hope they atleast tried to shoot in the air and scare it away first. :(

[Queso]

...exactly what are they training for in northern Kenya they're not thinking of putting peacekeepers into Rwanda are they.:rolleyes:
Helping Mark Thatcher with his next coup attempt?

[bousozoku]

They should have taken away his charge card. (It's an old joke. Don't shoot me.)

It's sad when something like that happens but when you cross territorial lines, things happen. I suppose they didn't have much of a choice, except to not be lost.

[Lord Blackadder]

If the rhino was charging the soldiers and they had no choice but to kill it or get killed, then you can't fault them for shooting it. But I hope they atleast tried to shoot in the air and scare it away first. :(

Shooting in the air would just get you killed.

I don't fault them at all - the rhino is a very agressive animal and it is unlikely that there there is anything they could have done to scare it off. But the 5.56mm assault rifle cartridge is fairly useless against big game - they probably had to riddle the poor animal just to get it to turn away, and it probably didn't die right away.

Getting lost in the bush is certainly a dangerous thing to do.

[Swarmlord]

A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A sad situation for certain.

[ThinkingMac]

Getting lost in the bush is certainly a dangerous thing to do.


I agree that's why I say get rid of the BUSH :eek: :eek:

[Queso]

I don't fault them at all - the rhino is a very agressive animal and it is unlikely that there there is anything they could have done to scare it off.
The white rhino isn't naturally aggresive. They are grazers (100% vegetarian) and only attack when they feel threatened. I've stood several metres away from a white rhino mother and calf in the Kruger and neither were bothered by my presence.

Black rhino are more aggressive, but this was a white rhino according to the report.

[Lord Blackadder]

The white rhino isn't naturally aggresive. They are grazers (100% vegetarian) and only attack when they feel threatened.

I'm guessing it felt threatened...

[yadmonkey]

Damn racist media. It only made the news because the rhino was white.