Rhulani Insights 270 – Dung beetles in the rhino midden
Look behind the scenes of Rhulani Safari Lodge.
Today, we are experiencing with Willem and Rhulani’s guests at one of these many interesting moments in the bush, and we analyze in more detail the dung of a white rhino, which has grown into a veritable "rhino midden", and we also talk about the importance of the many flies for the dung beetles that grow in the midden.
Poop humor is fun. If you do the toilet scenes well and commit to them, they can be really, really powerful.
Rhino middens, which are essentially toilets, often provide an interesting stop on safari and tell fascinating stories. Experts can easily identify a "white rhino midden," as it is coarse, fibrous, plant-rich, moist, and pellet-like, reflecting a grass-based diet and fast gut passage.
Today, however, the focus is on the many small flies that typically fly around the midden. Besides ordinary flies, we find also young dung beetles that develop in the midden. As Willem explains, there are about 1,500 different dung beetle species found in the world, half of which are found in South Africa.
Stay tuned for the next episode on 22 February when we show you the recent upgrades made in the guest rooms.
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