November 20, 2006: Rupert the Pet Rhino

Undertoad • Nov 20, 2006 8:16 am
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Neatorama is the net's finest blog for mind-boggling items in much the same vein as IotD -- but dosed out more rapidly instead of once a day. They find an enormous amount of neato stuff and produce a great site. Introducing a weekly collaboration, the Neato/Cellar IotD image of the week.

Growing up as a little boy in Rhodesia, Mike Condy had an unusual pet: a rhino named Rupert! The Daily Mail tracked him down:

Rupert was just a few weeks old when the Zambezi valley was flooded to make the Kariba Dam in Rhodesia. Along with many other beasts who would have drowned, he was rescued by a team of animal lovers including Mike’s father Dr John Condy, a local vet.

They made a ‘Noah’s Ark’ raft from oil drums and tree trunks to float stranded animals to safety, but Rupert’s mother - rhinos cannot swim - was too heavy, slipped off and drowned.

"Rupey" became an orphan - and so Dr Condy took him home for adoption.

Yesterday Mike Condy said: "It was amazing. Dad brought home a pet rhino. I was only about eight years old at the time. I’ll never forget it."

Daily Mail has the story and photo gallery - via Arbroath.

Be sure to visit Neatorama!
Trilby • Nov 20, 2006 8:31 am
Didn't we already decide that rhino's were nasty beasts that laughed with evil glee?
Trilby • Nov 20, 2006 8:32 am
And chucked new-born baby cows in the air?
Ibby • Nov 20, 2006 9:01 am
Awww, but Rupe's not like those wild and crazy rhinos!
Griff • Nov 20, 2006 9:09 am
As intrigued as I am with the calf tosser, I think our new little friend has a higher upside. Presenting Aife.
Sheldonrs • Nov 20, 2006 9:22 am
Ahhh...The heart-warming story of a boy and his Rhino.

"What's that Rupey, you say Mikey fell in the well?!" "Let's go get him boy!"
Trilby • Nov 20, 2006 9:24 am
AWWWW--! C'mere Aife! C'mere boy (girl?) Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? Yes, you are! Yes, you are! Go get it, Aife! Go get the stick!
Griff • Nov 20, 2006 9:32 am
girl
Shawnee123 • Nov 20, 2006 9:45 am
Brianna wrote:
AWWWW--! C'mere Aife! C'mere boy (girl?) Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? Yes, you are! Yes, you are! Go get it, Aife! Go get the stick!


:p

Cute dog, Griff!
wolf • Nov 20, 2006 4:31 pm
Nice looking pup!

Aife is the Irish version of my name. She was Queen of the Isle of Shadow and the sister of Scathach, a Warrior Goddess.
slang • Nov 20, 2006 5:34 pm
Let's all post about Griff's dog instead of the rhino.


Wait, we are. Nevermind. :D
Sheldonrs • Nov 20, 2006 6:42 pm
slang wrote:
Let's all post about Griff's dog instead of the rhino.


Wait, we are. Nevermind. :D


Actually, they are one and the same. He just had some rhinoplasty. :-)
xoxoxoBruce • Nov 20, 2006 8:29 pm
Ouch. :rolleyes:

Congratulations, Griff, many puppy returns.

Neatorama has been turning up the most bizarre stuff....day after day.
Must have a staff of thousands.
Griff • Nov 20, 2006 8:40 pm
slang wrote:
Let's all post about Griff's dog instead of the rhino.


Wait, we are. Nevermind. :D

Ya know this pooch would barely feed my family, but the rhino...
dar512 • Nov 20, 2006 9:22 pm
Interesting. We had a rhino IOTD almost exactly a year ago.
SPUCK • Nov 21, 2006 6:33 am
Too bad those first rhinos didn't find some deep water. A tear still forms in my eye when I think of that iddy bitty little calf being SHOTPUTTED!

Boy.. Rupert would put a bull in a china shop to shame...