Rhino Flips a Car Three Times With a Zookeeper Still Inside. What’s His Problem?
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Imagine sitting behind the wheel of your car when a massive rhinoceros suddenly charges straight at you. Before you can do anything, the animal drives its horn into the vehicle and sends it rolling across the ground. Now imagine that happening three times. That’s exactly what one zookeeper experienced during a terrifying encounter with a rhino at a safari park in Germany.
In the remarkable footage below, a furious rhinoceros repeatedly attacks a small zebra-striped car, lifting and overturning it with seemingly little effort. The most incredible part? The woman driving was still inside, and she somehow escaped without serious injuries. The incident demonstrates just how powerful these enormous animals can be, even when their opponent happens to be a car.
Watch This Rhino Flip a Car With Someone Still Inside
The encounter took place in August 2019 at Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen, Germany. The animal was a 30-year-old male rhinoceros named Kusini, and the unfortunate driver was an experienced female animal keeper working at the park.
In the video, Kusini approaches the small hatchback, which is painted with black-and-white stripes resembling a zebra. The enormous rhino then uses his horn and body to ram the vehicle, pushing against it with enough force to lift it off the ground. What follows is a frightening demonstration of raw strength as the car rolls over repeatedly.
Rather than stopping after the first impact, Kusini continues attacking the vehicle, overturning it three times. By the time the encounter ends, the hatchback is badly damaged. The roof and bodywork take a serious beating, and the driver has endured a ride that no safety test could reasonably prepare her for.
How Did the Zookeeper Survive the Rhino Attack?
Considering what happened to the car, the driver’s survival is extraordinary. According to Deutsche Welle, Serengeti Park manager Fabrizio Sepe confirmed that the keeper escaped with only bruises. She managed to get out of the damaged vehicle after the attack, and reports indicated that she was eager to return to work.
Park officials also revealed that Kusini had been at Serengeti Park for approximately 18 months and was still adjusting to his surroundings. The rhino was reportedly brought to the facility for breeding purposes, but his behavior raised questions about whether the park was the right environment for him.
Importantly, officials never established exactly what triggered the attack. While the footage shows the vehicle and rhino coming into close contact, it’s impossible to conclude from the video alone whether Kusini felt threatened, became startled, or reacted for another reason. What is clear is that the combination of his enormous size and strength made the encounter extremely dangerous.
Why Do Rhinos Charge at Cars and Other Large Objects?
Despite their enormous size and intimidating horns, rhinoceroses are herbivores that primarily eat vegetation.©Laura Holm/Shutterstock.com
Rhinos may look like armored tanks with legs, but they aren’t predators looking for something to hunt. All five living species of rhinoceros are herbivores, feeding on grasses, leaves, shoots, and other vegetation. Their impressive horns and massive bodies primarily serve defensive and competitive purposes rather than helping them capture prey.
According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, rhinos have relatively poor eyesight but excellent hearing and a strong sense of smell. Because they can’t always clearly identify what they’re looking at, they may charge when startled or when they perceive something as a threat.
Rhinos can also be territorial, and females with calves may respond aggressively to perceived danger. However, not every charge is motivated by the same circumstances. Sometimes an animal is defending itself, while other encounters may involve territorial behavior, frustration, or an unfamiliar stimulus.
In Kusini’s case, the exact reason remains uncertain. The zebra-striped vehicle certainly makes the footage unusual, but there’s no reliable evidence that the rhino attacked because he mistook the car for a zebra.
How Powerful Is a Rhinoceros?
Depending on the species, an adult rhinoceros can weigh several thousand pounds. The largest white rhinos can exceed 5,000 pounds, with exceptionally large individuals weighing even more. Combine that mass with powerful shoulder muscles, a low center of gravity, and a formidable horn, and it’s easy to understand how a rhino could inflict serious damage on a vehicle.
Interestingly, rhino horns aren’t made of bone. They’re composed primarily of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails and hair. But don’t let that comparison fool you. A thick, pointed horn backed by several thousand pounds of charging rhinoceros can be an incredibly powerful weapon.
Rhinos also have thick skin that helps protect them during confrontations, although it isn’t the impenetrable armor people sometimes imagine. Their skin is sensitive and can still suffer injuries. These animals are remarkably tough, but they’re far from invincible.
Fortunately, the keeper involved in this encounter survived with minor injuries, making an already unbelievable video even more remarkable. Kusini’s attack is a dramatic reminder that rhinos don’t have to be predators to be dangerous. Sometimes several thousand pounds of muscle and a well-placed horn are more than enough to turn an ordinary car into a pile of scrap metal.
Source: Nature
