Sunday, April 12, 2015

Rhino and Hippo, 1956

Many people love Moose and Squirrel. But I love Rhino and Hippo!

Here's a pretty good shot of  the rhinoceros that used to charge guests from along the banks of the Jungle Cruise river. We've all seen lots of pictures of rhinos, but what a strange beast this fellow his! I wonder what that lady is pointing at to our left? Maybe she is admiring all of the oranges on that tree - a survivor from when the park was an orange grove. I always love seeing those.


Hippos! Why did it have to be hippos? The water is full of them! One is right next to our boat, ears a-wiggling, looking for a hand to chomp on. The early crocodiles (or are they alligators?) in the Jungle Cruise were just a little bit "off" somehow, but I've always found the hippos to be pretty realistic, even in 1956. 


11 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

The Hippos in the Jungle Cruise always look as if they're having a grand old time. In reality, they are considered the most dangerous animals in Africa. Wouldn't you know.

Thanks, Major.

TokyoMagic! said...

Weren't the two baby rhinoceri located pretty close to the adult one? Perhaps the lady is pointing at them? Or maybe she's explaining that with that orange tree nearby, the animals never have to worry about scurvy.

K. Martinez said...

You've got two different color hippos there. Looks like Sanda, the brown hippo and Gaira, the green hippo are fighting again.

Hippos shots are a Disneyland favorite of mine. Thanks, Major.

Unknown said...

Nice shots today, Major.

I'd forgaotten about the rhinos out there in the jungle. I thought for a moment that WED might have transplanted the big guy over to the "Trapped Safari" scene but a quick look at pictures seems to tell me it's a big "no".

The hippo that's so close to the boat was part of the "Great Rogue Hippo Incident" of 1956. When one of the denizens of the hippo pool broke loose from his tracked restraints park personnel were forced to shoot the unruly animal with a grease gun. The unfortunate creature is now on display in a Midwest museum. Or did I dream this...

Chuck said...

Patrick, I'm pretty sure I remember reading about that incident in National Geographic...or maybe it was the National Inquirer.

Chuck said...

Make that "Enquirer."

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, I recently saw this video! Pretty scary!

TokyoMagic!, I didn’t know there were rhino babies, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo of them. Maybe they died of scurvy?

K. Martinez, you get an A+ for making a “War of the Gargantuan” reference!

Patrick, I feel like I have a memory of the rhinos, but it might actually be a memory of seeing them on an episode of “The Wonderful World of Color”. The “Great Rogue Hippo Incident” sounds like a mixed-up version of “Westworld”.

Chuck, it was “The World Weekly News”, the finest newspaper ever, and the only one to cover the controversial discovery of Bat Boy.

TokyoMagic! said...

Major, maybe they weren't babies, but I thought there were two younger rhinos near the adult one. Hmmmm, did I imagine it? I thought I had seen some Wonderful World of Color footage showing two smaller rhinos that turn and run away as the boat comes near. Unless I'm thinking of the little bear along the Rivers of America that used to do that. I could have sworn there was an effect like that in the Jungle Cruise too.

Nanook said...

Major-

Yeeessh-! I hadn't seen that video. Its aggressive "breaststroke" makes Bruce (Jaws) seem downright tame.

K. Martinez said...

Major - That hippopotamus in the video is cool. I want one for Christmas.

Major Pepperidge said...

TokyoMagic! I’m sure I’ve seen video of an adult rhino turning and running away. I am sure you are right, but I wish I could find pictures!

Nano, I wonder what that angry hippo was planning on doing if it caught the boat. Eat the passengers like hoagies?

K. Martinez, it is pretty cool; instead of a “watch dog”, you’ll have a “watch hippo”. Nobody will mess with your house!