Max was an orphaned Southern White rhino who was raised at the conservancy. He loved people and was often seen going for walks with the rangers as they worked to reintroduce him to the wild.
One of our favourite memories of Max was his love of music. When the rangers needed a break, they would turn on the radio and rub his belly which would cause Max to roll over and fall asleep.
The rangers successfully integrated Max to the wild and he eventually started hanging out with buffalo and other rhinos. For Max’s safety they cut off his horn (a painless procedure) to make him less vulnerable to poachers. Sadly, in June, 2011, Max was shot by poachers for his small bit of horn. He likely walked right up to the them, thinking they might give him a treat.
The pictures below show Max in happier times, having a snooze following a belly rub.
