She just paints on the hoof! Mechi, the 3,500-pound rhinoceros turned artist

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Mechi uses her lips to paint on her canvas at a zoo in Evansville in Indiana which is then sold in the gift shop


Her works of art sell like hot cakes at the gift store and some are even comparing her to Picasso.

But there is one big difference between the famous Spanish artist and Mechi - Mechi is a one-horned, 3,500 pound rhinoceros who lives at the Mesker Park Zoo in Indiana.

And not only that, but she paints with her lips rather than her feet or horn to create colourful swirls or designs.


Zoo keeper Brad Fichter holds Mechi's paper as she paints. Just before she starts to paint, she gets excited and can't wait to put her lips to paper


The staff call Mechi their Picasso in training and say they can sometimes even see a rhino in her paintings


Mechi came to the zoo three years ago after being found in the wilds of Nepal after her mother was killed by poachers.

Since then, zoo keepers have been encouraging her to paint after she took to the hobby like a duck to water.

They offered her the chance to paint as a form of stimulating entertainment for the long winter months when she couldn’t get out to mud wallow or sit by her pool in the sun.


The 3,500-pound rhino came to the zoo via Washington Zoo after her mother was killed by poachers in the Nepalese wild three years ago


According to the zoo, at first pieces of banana, carrot and sweet potato were placed on the paper for Mechi to move around and nibble on. Once she got used to the motions she made with her lips to move the treats, the keepers replaced these with blobs of non-toxic paint.

The zoo staff affectionately refer to her as their Picasso in training and some even believe they can see a rhino in some of her paintings.

Mechi’s art is sold in the zoo gift shop, and auctioned off to raise money for the zoo and other rhino-related causes.



The zoo had trained rhinos to paint before, so thought they'd offer Mechi the chance as a form of stimulating entertainment for the long winter months

source: dailymail

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Meet my pet rhino: The 12-year-old whose best friend is a two-ton battering ram

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Tender: Elizaveta Tishchenk, 12, has become best friends with Max the white Rhino and loves to stroke and cuddle him at the wildlife centre in Kenya


With one stamp of its feet, this two-ton wild rhino could crush a human with ease.
But oblivious Elizaveta Tishchenk, 12, has become best friends with the beast and loves nothing more than to cuddle his leathery skin.

The pair have struck up an extraordinary relationship since orphaned white rhino Max was found wandering through the Laikipia District of Kenya as a youngster.

After being taken into the centre of rehabilitation at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya around three years ago, Max took a shine to the young girl while she was visiting the country.

Despite being renowned for their aggressive nature, five-year-old Max likes Elizaveta to stroke his back gently as he tucks into some grass.


Best buddies: Gentle giant Max rolls on to his back so that Elizaveta can pat his stomach like a puppy. Elizaveta's father said she doesn't stop talking about her new friend


And he even rolls around in the grass on his back so she can pet his stomach like a dog.

Her father Alexey, 40, said: 'We were told by guards in the area a new rhinoceros had been abandoned and taken in by the centre to look after him.

'After driving for about 20 minutes through the bush we noticed a white rhino jogging towards us.

'That wasn't too unusual as they aren't afraid of jeeps - but it stayed with us for a long time.

'We realised it was the young rhino workers were talking about so asked our guides to let us out of the jeeps and they did.

'Max paid no attention to the rest of us - he was too busy with eating grass while my daughter started to pat him like a puppy.


source: dailymail

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The rhino who refused to go quietly

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE

Spotted: The injured black rhino is on alert after sighting the rangers in Nairobi National Park


This injured and exceedingly grumpy black rhino didn't take too kindly to park rangers' efforts to sedate him.

The one-ton beast charged their jeep in Nairobi National Park as they tried to get close enough to safely shoot a tranquiliser through its thick hide.

Refusing to go down without a fight the rhino, which can charge at speeds of up to 30mph, repeatedly crashed its horn into the side of the vehicle and tried to push it over.


To the point: The rhino suggests the rangers leave the vicinity - in no uncertain terms


Wildlife photographer, Paulo Torchio, 49, from Turin, witnessed the explosive force of this angry rhino while visiting the park in Kenya.

'I was on a tour of the park - when I saw a car full of rangers observing this black rhino,' explained Paulo.

'They told me about their mission to sedate and treat the injured rhino - so I set myself up on the top of a hill with a 500mm lens.

'This was far enough away not to interfere with their delicate job.


Battering ram: The rhino uses all its one ton weight to try and shove the jeep out of the picture


'I saw them approach the rhino - but suddenly the beast hurried across the plain to confront the jeep.

'Without thinking twice it charged the car.

'During the commotion the vet somehow managed to dart the rhino - and they drove away at full speed.'

The proud animal stood tall - looking back at its fleeing opponents before gently falling to sleep.

The rangers soon returned with the vet who was able to treat the animal - now sleeping like a baby - on the spot.

Paulo has a particular love of Nairobi National Park because of the unique way it provides a haven for the rare black rhino - yet remains amazingly close to the heart of Kenya's sprawling capital city - it is only five miles away.


Down at last: The beast is felled eventually, allowing a doctor to go in safely and treat its wounds

source: dailymail

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