Gaida

Project 365 #129 07/05/07

A One Horned Rhinoseros, or Gaida, basks in a watering hole in deep in Chitwan National Park.

This photo was taken on an elephant back safari and would otherwise have probably been impossible. On foot it is simply too dangerous to go this deep into the jungle, and as such the area is off limits. Likewise, a car couldn't make it here even if it wanted to, and the animals would have scampered long before we made it. However, on elephant back barely any area is off limits and no animal out of reach. As a natural part of the environment, other animals are not afraid of elephants and, as such, the handler can take us as close as possible to many of the animals who don't even bat an eyelid at our presence.