The A - Z April Challenge: R

Today’s entry in the A – Z Challenge is a study in African contrast…from a small, swift bird to a large and lumbering mammal.

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R is for Roller Bird

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 The beautiful Lilac Breasted Roller Bird is Kenya's National Bird.

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It is named for the impressive aerial acrobatics it performs as part of courtship, twisting 
and diving
dramatically
to the accompaniment of
 its own racous call.

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These are not easy birds to photograph. They spend their days on the top of tall acacia trees, the better to spot their prey of insects, lizards, rodents and small amphibians, swooping down fiercely to make their capture on the ground.
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The Roller bird's pretty looks contradict its fierce behaviour. This is a territorial bird who can best be described as a warrior. It is not surprising that this species is flourishing in East Africa.
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R is also for Rhinocerous

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The African Black Rhinoceros is a large, primitive looking mammal that dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago. Slow moving and often solitary, these are herbivores who roam the grasslands eating plants from the ground or nibbling at low branches in trees.

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Rhinos rank among the most endangered species on Earth. Valued for their horns, they face a serious threat of extinction. Some cultures believe that powdered rhino horn will cure everything from fever to food poisoning and will enhance sexual stamina.

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During the latter half of the 20th century the numbers of African Black Rhinos were severely reduced from an estimated 70,000 to a mere 2,000. Since 1970, the world rhino population has declined by 90%, and of the five species remaining in the world today, all are endangered.

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Man is the cause of the demise of the rhino. In the wild, it has no natural predators and, despite its size and antagonistic reputation, is an extremely easy animal for man to kill. With organized gangs of poachers who sell rhino horn to black market syndicates the threat to their species remains great .

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The Masai Mara holds one of the last unfenced rhino populations in Africa. The Mara population declined from 150 animals to less than 15 in under two decades.
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When we visited in 2006, our guide told us there were only two rhinos left in the vast reserve...a mother and her calf, born after a male wandered into the park from another area.
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While a few more have been added to the herd, the rhino's future looks bleak. I came to love their pacid ways and grave sense of dignity. It breaks my heart to think that future generations will not get to appreciate this magnificent beast unless stringent conservation measures are taken immediately...
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For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter R...
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http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting