A more detailed explanation if interested While other comments are correct in stating the guide imitated the marking of a territorial boundary, they miss out the other clever aspects of what the guide did. In short, he simulated the entire movements of an assertive male rhino. By having his tour group crouch behind him, it mimicked young offspring and tricked the rhino into believing the guide was a male protecting his family. This is important. When he crouched, the guide was simulating a dipped head and horn, a sign of aggression and intent to charge. Male rhinos will do this to challenge one another. At the end of the video the guide stands up and sways to again encourage the rhino not to come any closer. But, the rhino was up for the challenge for most of this video. It replied in turn with a dipped head and sway. And because of this the guide takes it up a level and crouches once again, only this time he pushes the stick forward in a swift motion. This not only repeats the aggressive posture and intent to defend territory (and simulated young being the tour group), but the forward motion of the stick was a flick of the horn. This is the most assertive posture a rhino can adopt. This, coupled with the tour group simulating offspring, led to the rhino ceding the territorial challenge. The message the guide essentially made through his clever behavioural mimics was: “this is my area and this is my family, do not come closer”. And lastly, “that’s it, I’ve warned you” before the rhino turned and ran away. Very clever and a joy to watch.
