Pitman, D., 1983. Rhino rescue in southern Zimbabwe. Newsletter of the African Elephant and Rhino Group 2: 9-10
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - Zimbabwe |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
White Rhino |
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One of the threatened rhino populations, first thought to number 25 animals, was located on the Humani and Lone Star ranches in the south-eastern corner of the country, close to the Gonarezhou National Park. Two National Parks capture teams moved into the area in June 1983. While one team concentrated on the threatened antelopes, the other successfully located and caught 17 white rhino, using darts loaded with M99 and administering the 50-50 antidote after the animals had been transported to the pens on Lone Star ranch. Six have since died from a combination of stress and extreme poverty. The remaining 11 have adjusted to a diet of sugarcane tops supplied by neighbouring sugar estates. While the second team continue with the antelope capture, the rhino unit, led by the Department's Management Unit Warden Clem Coetsee, moved a couple of hundred miles west to Doddieburn, a former ranch that is now State Land.
Here, a further 22 white rhino are thought to be threatened by the drought and are being captured and penned. Three are destined for Algeria, together with a number of cheetah. Five will be moved on to other ranches where grazing is still available; and the rest will be released into the 5200-square-mile Hwange National Park.
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Rhino rescue in southern Zimbabwe
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