LARGE ANIMAL ATTACKS - Medicine for Mountaineering and Other Wilderness Activities - page 477

even more space. The signs of musth include moisture, like tears, running down the
head, an engorged penis, moisture on the legs, and dripping. A distance of 150 feet or
more is required to be safe.
4. Individuals in an area where elephants are known to be must stay alert. Elephants are
wellcamouflaged;theydisappearinthebush,andsuddenencountersinthickbushcan
surprise both humans and elephants.
5. Elephants should never be fed … anything.
6. An elephant shaking its head and flapping its ears is uncomfortable. Humans should
back off immediately. They should not try to pass the animal if space is not adequate.
(If the elephant can be passed at the same speed individuals would normally travel in
the park, and they can accelerate away without disturbing it, they have enough space.)
7. If baby elephants are present, extra vigilance is required. Female elephants are very
protective, and male elephants are likely to attack because females are unhappy.
8. Individuals must watch where the elephants are going. Getting the road closed behind
them can be very scary.
9. Individuals muststayinsidethevehicle. Climbing outofawindowchangestheprofile
of the vehicle and draws interest, which should be avoided.
10. Real charges by an elephant usually can be identified because the ears flatten against
the body and the trunk is rolled up underneath the head. When that occurs, it is time to
get away fast.
Trampling, goring with tusks, and tossing or striking the individual with the trunk pro-
duce most injuries. When a human is immobilized, an elephant sometimes drops on the
person with its knees, crushing the person.
Rhinoceroses
Five species of rhinoceroses still exist: two in Africa, the white and black rhinoceroses
(which cannot be distinguished by their color); and three in southern Asia, the Indian,
Javan, and Sumatran rhinoceroses. Three of the species—the Javan, Sumatran, and black
rhinoceroses—are critically endangered. The Indian is endangered, with fewer than 2700
animalsremaininginthewild,andthewhiteisconsideredvulnerable,withroughly14,500
remaining.
Rhinos are the third largest mammal; only elephants and hippos are larger. The white
rhino can exceed 6600 pounds and can have a head-and-body length of 11 to 13.9 feet and
a shoulder height of
60 to 73 inches. The largest white rhinoceros was about 10,000 pounds. Its protective
skin ranges from 0.6 to 2 inches in thickness.
The Indian rhino is comparable in size to the white rhino. It has only a single horn, as
does the Javan. All others have two horns.