Watch A Man Walk His Pet Rhino Down The Street Like Its A Well-Trained Dog

When you have to shop for new clothes and grab a cold drink, you naturally head to your downtown shopping center. But in Nepal, there’s a town where you can do both and get a view of wildlife smackdab in the center of the road!

Rhino Traipses Down The Street With Owner

When the video below starts, you’re getting a view from inside a vehicle in a busy environment around Chitwan National Park in Nepal. There are several people on motorcycles traveling in the opposite direction of the person filming. There’s a street vendor selling cotton candy, a parked car, and yes — a rhino. There are two men on either side of the street, both holding long sticks. One of them is traveling behind the rhino as it moves forward in the same direction as the motorcycles.

Watch The Unique Scene Below!

Some of the motorcyclists turn their heads to check out the rhino while others look ahead as if this is a regular sight around town. As the video progresses, you notice there’s a second man walking behind the rhino as well as what appears to be a motorcycle escort. The person in the vehicle keeps filming as the rhino gets close, crossing in front of the Khatiwada Cold Store, where several different types of snacks and refreshments are on display. The rhino’s horn is but a nub as it walks on the street, cool and confident on the busy road in the shopping district.

Can Rhinos Be Pets?

In short, no, rhinos can’t be pets. These are wild animals, which means they’re highly unpredictable. Also, it’s illegal for most. These animals are huge and can be dangerous around humans. However, when the effort is put forth to tame a rhino, they respond well. Whereas other wild animals would be highly dangerous all the time, rhinos are generally docile. They rarely show aggression, especially when they are allowed to exist in peace without undue provocation. If they do perceive a threat, they may charge, especially if it’s a mother rhino getting into protective mode around her calves.

Why Do Some Rhinos Have Horns and Others Don’t?

Rhinos have beautiful, distinctive horns that they use in the wild for protection. Unfortunately, rhinos have been hunted for their horns, with their populations depleting to near extinction. There are beliefs that a rhino’s horn holds certain healing properties and in an attempt to harness the healing power of a rhino’s horn, many have made the choice to extinguish the rhino in the process. As a way to save a rhino’s life, many horns have been humanely removed, effectively rendering them useless to poachers. Which is fantastic news for the rhino.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Udo Kieslich