'Surreal pictures' show Rhino being airlifted away from poachers

A rhino has appeared to fly as it is air-lifted out of the South African bush to a new location in an amazing set of photographs.

The surreal images show the 2,200-pound herbivore slung from a helicopter over stunning rivers and over rolling vegetation all whilst blindfolded.

Another picture shows the rhino floating through the clouds.

 

Other shots show the critically endangered species fitted with a tracking device and being lowered to the ground.

 

The spectacular images were taken at the Great Fish River Reserve, South Africa.

Professional wildlife and conservation photographer Pete Oxford, 58, from Torquay, Devon, was behind the lens.

 

 

 

 

“I was living and working in a National Park in South Africa and was associated with documenting many animal captures and relocations,” Pete said.

“Based on this I was asked to document the capture and relocation of a new founder population of fifteen black rhino from a well-managed and protected reserve in South Africa to an undisclosed new location in the north of the country.

Other shots from the collection, by Pete Oxford, show the endangered species being fitted with a tracking device and being lowered to the ground.