Be prepared to outrun a rhino if you want to date this French animal lover

We all know the allure of the French. The accent‚ the sophistication‚ the fashion. And‚ as it turns out‚ it’s something that not even a rhino in can resist.

Nandi‚ a beautiful black rhino being cared for at the Findimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in KwaZulu-Natal‚ fluttered her eyelashes at senior intern and rhino carer Axel Tarifa‚ and she had her Valentine in the bag.

Axel Tarifa with his rhino Valentine, Nandi, and her best friend Makhosi. Picture Supplied

“One would think that Axel would have it all and would be inundated with Valentine's gifts and messages‚ but this is not the case.

His heart‚ and full-time commitment‚ leaves little time for romance and Valentines. His heart is taken by Nandi‚” said orphanage head Karen Trendler. But Axel will have to work hard to keep Nandi’s attention.

That included a slog through the bush on Valentine’s Day to get her just what she wanted. “Roses and chocolates just don't do it for Nandi. Axel had to take a walk into the thick bush in search of her favourite browse.

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Axel Tarifa, an intern and rhino carer at the Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in KZN, treats his Valentine to a beautifying mud bath. Picture: Supplied

And it was a specially prepared mud bath that sealed the deal‚” said Trendler. And if you’re thinking of jumping in‚ just know that Nandi – and the other rhino that Axel cares for – are very possessive and deal with any competition with a typical black rhino huff‚ head butt and charge.

“Any lady with an eye on Axel as a potential Valentine would need to be prepared to sleep on piles of straw‚ get muddy‚ mix vast volumes of milk‚ cut lots of thorny browse and run like hell when Nandi gets jealous‚” said Trender.

- TMG Digital/The Times