Why Rhino scatters his dung

We have seen the territorial markings of a male rhino on many occasion. A shallow depression in the centre of a scattered dung heap. These are arrayed around the periphery of his territory and are visited every so often. The male will reverse into these middens and proceed to defecate and at the same time kick it backwards. The idea here is to try get the scent of his dung into his feet and as he walks away he creates an invisible “fence” of his own scent to mark out his territory. There is another reason that Rhino does this and it is a tale told by the Zulu people.

One day Elephant was on his way to the watering hole when he heard a shrill noise accompanied by grunts and sounds of branches being broken. Elephant is naturally curious and so moved closer to investigate.

Upon seeing the sight before him, Elephant burst into deep rumbling laughter. There ahead of him was Rhino, who was in the process of turning a guarrie bush into splinters. Elephant knew exactly why Rhino was behaving like this as he had seen him this way many times before. Because Rhino is so near-sighted and short tempered, he was often prone to being snuck up on by bushes or trees who spring out in front of him and scare the living daylights out of him. Elephant could only guess that this was the case today.

Rhino heard Elephant’s laughter and spun around, furious, and shouted at Elephant “What are you laughing at!”, and Elephant replied “why my dear friend, I would never let myself act so out of hand because a bush had outsmarted me.” Rhino took great offence to this (remember he is short tempered) and in a blustering huff said to Elephant “Well that is grand coming from one who is just as short tempered and sighted as me!”

Now Elephant said to Rhino “Rhino my friend, there is nothing you can do that I can’t do better, even given the fact that I am in the same boat as you.” “Oh is that so” replied Rhino who was by now tired of Elephant’s constant jabs and taunts. Rhino came across a great idea to put Elephant in his place and so said to Elephant “Right! Well then I am sure you are up to a little contest between us. He who can make the bigger dung pile will be the winner!” Elephant replied easily “I am twice your size! It is obvious I will create a pile twice your size!” And so they proceeded to attempt this challenge.

Rhino was the clear and definite winner and crowed in his glee at showing Elephant up at so simple a challenge. This drove Elephant into a deep rage, Elephant rushed at Rhino and gave him the worst hiding he had ever had. Beating Rhino with his trunk and goring him with his tusks. Eventually Elephant’s rage dissipated and he left a battered Rhino to nurse his wounds.

To this day, Rhino scatters his great dung pile so as not to offend Elephant again and risk another hiding like the previous one.