Flying rhinoceros

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This is a black rhinoceros being relocated by helicopter out of its home where poachers would likely kill it. Why? Black rhino horn is valuable as "medicine." From National Geographic:

The rhino airlifts were part of WWF's Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, which has moved nearly 120 of the animals to date. In the latest effort, 19 (tranquilized) rhinos were airlifted out of their original habitat (in South Africa's Eastern Cape) and driven to a new location in Limpopo Province, about 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) away.

"Rare Black Rhinos Airlifted to Safety"

David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.

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http://twitter.com/writebastard Ian Wood

Owwwww use the sling!
- siloxane
  
  Owwwww use the sling!
  
  I was wondering about that too, but as the article states, “This new procedure is gentler on the darted rhino, because… [its] respiration is not as compromised as it can be in a net.”
  - Culturedropout
    
    I initially read that as, “Its reputation is not as compromised” and I’m thinking “How much MORE damage could they do to the rhino’s street cred than by flying him around upside down by his feet??” *sigh*
    - digi_owl
      
      have Spider-Man goad him around like a bull in a china store until the place comes down on his head?
  - http://twitter.com/writebastard Ian Wood
    
    Well obviously I didn’t bother reading the article. Do you think I have time for that sort of thing? Nope, “Comment, and move on,” that’s what we were taught at the Academy.
Nathaniel

I made it better:
- DreamboatSkanky
  
  Ha! I did the same thing, with the caption, “‘S’cuse Me, while I kiss the sky!!!”
- A. .
  
  ok, new cpu desktop.
Zero Sonico

Turn it around and you get a rhinoceros balloon!! ^_^/
awjt

He’s thinking, “Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow…”
Lobster

Don’t joke guys, this is really rhinoserious.
Guest

I hadn’t realized the World Wrestling Federation’s philanthropic interests were so diversified. :)

(That’s okay, I remember where the door is…)
saint242

On a much, much sadder note, two days ago the IUCN declared the Western Black Rhino extinct. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15663982
- Lobster
  
  But… now how will they get their medicine!?
  - saint242
    
    Just grind up some fingernail clippings and call it ground rhino horn. Because they are the same goddamn thing.
Chauncey Scott

helluva place to wake up at.
doomcake

flood the market with fake rhino horn?
http://twitter.com/bigbadchang Chang Terhune

I kind of want to put the last black rhino in a room with the PennState cho-mo and see who comes out alive. There’s a weird justice in it somehow.
- voiceinthedistance
  
  That’s a cage match I’d pay to see. I’d prefer to see it, though, if they could find a way to cover Mr. Sandusky with rhino pheromones first.
fuzzbo

Would that be a heliphrino?
- Donald Petersen
  
  Hell if I know.
  
  (Aw, somebody had to.)
http://weblogwithnoname.blogspot.com/ Chris Tucker GOP Delenda Est!

And for the rest of their lives, they dreamed of flying.
baronkarza

It resembles a scene from Fellini’s “And the Ship Sails On” where a rhino is suspended from ropes aboard ship, and that other film (was it Dolce Vita? I’m not sure) where the giant statue of Jesus is airlifted across Rome.
jackbird

I thought the advent of Viagra killed the market for rhino horn. Anyone knowledgeable care to comment?
- Culturedropout
  
  Where do you think Viagra _comes from_?
TheMudshark

In related news, there has been a series oh rhinoceros horn thefts in Vienna lately. Horns were stolen from an auction house and later from a taxidermist who had bought the horn at that very same auction house.
Andrew Pam

That joke is so 2002. (The year WWF became WWE. Yes, it’s nearly a decade already!)
oneswellfoop

Anyone been able to find a high res version of this pic? It need to be my new desktop background.
http://twitter.com/the_damned_fool the damned fool

Although desperate times call for desperate measures, that much weight on the animals joints and bones can’t be too good. Hope in the future the animal rescuers have a chance to read up on methods of movement as recommended by Dr. Temple Grandin.