As a little additive for you guys, JJHACK from Jesseshunting.com and huntingadventures.net has added a little insight on the subject:

"We have quite a lot of Rhino on our property and as a normal managment process we check their health often. We dart them and offer this "green hunt" to the clients on site when we need to do it. This is done to offset the cost of the project.

Here is a brief breakdown of the typical cost. However the exchange rates and other management operations that require a helecoptor or veternarian on the property at the same time play a part in the total cost.

Chopper and fuel for the day: 2000 bucks
Vet and drugs for the darts: 500 bucks
Loyds of London Insurance for the event 1500 bucks
PH cost 125 bucks for the day. per PH
Staff of helpers and trackers another 100 bucks or so.

So here you see there is about 4500 bucks in actual cost to dart one Rhino and perform the checks. This incudes zero profit for further research. Our dart hunts sell quickly for 5500 bucks and sometimes with a poor exchange rate get 6500 bucks.

It is very exciting and every bit as much a hunt if not more then using a bullet. I really don't see the down side. Our .22 blank powered darts have a 45 yard maximum range and usually we shoot about 30 -35 yards. The Rhinos we dart usually remain on their feet or slowly lower themselves to the ground after darting. On many occasions we must push them over when we get to them. In this way they can be a bit easier to control when drugged. Even if you don't give this much credibility from a hunting perspective it's an exciting process to be involved with. We have had many clients dart rhino from a small helecopter as well. The Chopper ride is every bit as exciting as the hunt itself. If looks as if the tree tops will hit your feet when buzzing over at 30-40mph. The Client stands on the skid outside the chopper with a body harness on which is strapped to the inside of the helecopter. Then the pilot flys over many times trying to speed match the rhino in between him coming in and out of the bush.

Last year we darted 16 of our Rhino. 8 were darted to check for pregnancy. All 8 were pregnant. We have a very healthy and strong population because we manage them properly and offer these kinds of hunts to fund the management.

More research on this would show you it's been a long time management tool with no related problems. We have been darting the biggest land animals alive for 20 years now. I have been certified for this work and darting them for over 10 years now. We have never lost a single animal or had to put one down. Like anything else there is a right way and a wrong way to do this. There are also many ways to cut corners and take chances. Once you dicipline yourself to do the job right, hire the right people for support and have a talented and experienced Chopper pilot on hand the problems are near zero. If you wanna dart one find me at www.HuntingAdventures.net

It may not be for everyone, however I have not yet seen a man sneak to within 30 yards of a group of rhino's and not have a rush of emotion and excitment. If you do this and feel nothing exciting you may need to find something other then hunting to do in your life! I have done it countless times and feel the shakes and the adrenilin every single time I do it, to this day. Most people have no real concept or idea what it's like to be 30 yards from an animal that size outside a zoo with no fence for protection.

Experience plays a big role in being able to have an opionion on this. I could sit here and type out how boring it must be to jump off a bridge with a bungie cord around my legs. However having never done it I would not embarass myself with that opinion."