African Rhino
UBhejana we-Afrika

© Roger de la Harpe

Isingeniso

Abobhejana mhlobo weenlwani ezimunyisako ezibokala lula ngebanga lezitho nobukhulu bazo kanye neempondo ezisepandla. Lo kumhlobo weenlwani ezizithembako tle begodu zikhe zibonakale zidla utjani phambi kwamabhubezi ngaphandle kokuthukwa kuthi nawo amabhubezi abonakale angakaphazamiseki njengabo abobhejanaba. Abantu ababulala abobhejana ngehloso yokuthola amaphondwabo, basizathu esikhulu sokwehla kwesibalo sabobhejanaba.
Esiciwini seembandana i-Kruger National Park umhlobo waboBhejana omhlophe White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) utholakala phakathi kwendawo ebizwa i-Sabie kanye ne-Crocodile Rivers, kuthi isibalo sabo esincani sitholakale e-Shingwedzi and Letaba. Umhobo onzima ngombala waboBhejana (Diceros bicornis) batholakala emahlathini ande ngameva kanye nalawo aminyeneko weSewula yesiciwi i-Kruger phakatthi kwe-Skukuza kanye ne-Pretoriuskop kanye nesewula yendawo ebizwa i-Lower Sabie eseduze ne-Crocodile Bridge.

Balala kuphi begodu bunjani aboBhejana?

AboBhejana balala bajamile nofana ngokulala phasi, begodu bakghona ukulala ama-awara abunane ngelanga. Kesinye isikhathi bavamise ukutholakala babambe isithongwana ngaphasi kwemithi lokha ilanga nalitjhisa khulu, kodwana nabalala ubuthongo obude bavamise ukulala phasi kuthi iinyawo bazigobele kancani ngehlangothi elilodwa. Balala ubuthongo obukhulu begodu kulula bona ubatjhidele bangezwa lutho.

AboBhejani bawususa njani umtjhiso?

Nakutjhisa ilanga emini aboBhejani bavamise ukuphumula ngaphasi komthunzi nofana bazume indawo enedaka nofana emanzi. Idaka abalisebenziseli ukususa umtjhiso kwaphela kodwana nokuqotjha iimpukani kanye nokuvike isikhumba sabo elangeni elitjhisako. Bazwana nokutjhagala khulu phakathi kobusuku begodu lokha nakupholileko kukhambeka. Banjalo nje bangasusa umtjhiso ngokusela amanzi nakakhona.

Lenziwe ngani iphondo lakaBhejani begodu kubayini lifunwa kangaka?

Iphondweli alikenziwa ngeenhluthu eziqinileko nezihlanganisiweko, njengombana kukhe kwaqatjangwa ngaleyondlela (lapha sikhuluma ngezinto ezakha amazipho, kanye neenqatha). Iphondweli lifunelwa ukwenza iinhlahla njengombana kuhlongozwa. Endaweni ye-Yemen iphondweli lisetjenzisela ukwenza izinto eziphatha nofaka ezifaka isango (umthathambana) ovamise ukuthulelwa abesana abasesigabeni sokungena ebododeni.

Ngimuphi umehluko okhona phakathi kwalezo ezinzima kanye nalezo ezimhlophe?

Awukho umehluko mayelana nombala phakathi kwemihlobo emibili yaboBhejana, okukhona kukuthi igama elithi uBhejana Omhlophe (White Rhino) lihlathulula indlela umlomakhe ungakho, ukunaba kanye nobubanzi kwakhe. Umlomo wakaBhejana onzima unesiphetho ezigobeneko nasicathaniswa naloyo obanzi wakaBhejana omhlophe. UBhejani omhlophe waziwa ngokudla utjani kuthi onzima abemhlobo okhamba uzuma ukudla, ngebanga nesakhiwo semilomabo. Umehluko omunye okhona phakathi kwaboBhejanaba kukuthi omhlophe mkhulu kunaloyo onzima.